Banzembo 73
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Solo, Nzambe azali malamu mpo na Isalaele, mpo na bato oyo bazali mitema peto.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 Nzokande mpo na ngai, etikalaki moke ete makolo na ngai eselumuka, etikalaki moke ete nakweya,
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
3 pamba te nazalaki kolula bato ya lofundu tango nazalaki komona kimia ya bato mabe.
For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 Kino na kufa na bango, bazalaka na mitungisi te, nzoto na bango ezalaka sembesembe.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 Kati na bango, moko te amonaka pasi oyo bato nyonso bamonaka; babelaka te bokono oyo ezwaka bato.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Yango wana, lolendo ekoma lokola mayaka na bakingo na bango, mpe makambo na kanza ekoma lokola elamba na bango.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Miso na bango engengaka na bilongi etonda na mafuta; mitema na bango esalaka kaka mabongisi ya mabe;
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 batiolaka mpe balobaka mabe, bagangelaka minyoko.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 Minoko na bango etombokelaka Likolo, mpe lolemo na bango esakanelaka mokili.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 Yango wana bato balandaka bango mpe bamelaka maloba na bango lokola mayi.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 Balobaka: « Nzambe akoyeba ndenge nini? Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo azali ata na boyebi? »
And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Tala ndenge bato mabe bazalaka: tango nyonso, bazalaka na mitungisi te, mpe bomengo na bango emataka se komata.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 Solo, ezali kaka na pamba nde nabatelaki motema na ngai peto; ezali kaka na pamba nde nasukolaki maboko na ngai mpo ete nasala mabe te!
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 Mikolo nyonso, nanyokwamaka; mpe tongo nyonso, nazwaka etumbu.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 Soki nalobi: « Nakoloba lokola bango, » wana nateki penza lokumu ya libota na Yo.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 Tango nakanisaki mpo na koluka kososola, nayokaki pasi na motema
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 kino nakendeki na Esika ya bule ya Nzambe mpe nasosolaki ndenge nini bakosuka.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 Solo, otielaka bango biloko ya moselu, okweyisaka bango kati na libebi.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 Ndenge nini babebisamaka mbala moko, bakomaka na suka, mpe somo elimwisaka bango!
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
20 Ndenge ndoto elimwaka soki moto alamuki na pongi, Nkolo, olimwisaka lisolo ya bomoi na bango tango kaka otelemaka.
As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 Tango motema na ngai ezalaki kotomboka mpe molimo na ngai emitungisaki,
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 nasilaki mayele, nakomaki lokola zoba, nakomaki lokola nyama liboso na Yo.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Nzokande, nazalaka tango nyonso elongo na Yo; osimba ngai na loboko na ngai ya mobali.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 Otambolisaka ngai na nzela ya toli na Yo, mpe, na sima, okoyamba ngai kati na nkembo.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
25 Kuna na Likolo, nani azali mpo na ngai soki Yo te? Mpe awa na mokili, nasepela na nani soki na Yo te?
Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 Nzoto na ngai ekoki kobeba, mpe motema na ngai ekoki kolemba; kasi Nzambe azali Libanga mpe libula na ngai mpo na tango nyonso.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Bato nyonso oyo bazali mosika na Yo bakokufa; obebisaka bato nyonso oyo batosaka Yo te.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
28 Kasi mpo na ngai, ezali malamu kozala pene ya Nzambe. Nakomisi Nkolo Yawe ebombamelo na ngai, mpo na kopanza sango ya misala na Yo nyonso.
But, as for me, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
