Banzembo 78
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Bino, bato na ngai, boyoka malako na ngai! Bopesa matoyi na maloba ya monoko na ngai!
[A Psalm] of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
2 Nakofungola monoko na ngai mpo na lisese, nakosakola makambo oyo ebombama wuta na tango ya kala.
I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings [which have been] from the beginning.
3 Makambo oyo toyoka, oyo toyebi, oyo batata na biso bayebisa biso.
All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us.
4 Tokobombela yango bakitani na bango te, kasi tokoloba na bikeke oyo ekoya na sima nkembo ya masanzoli ya Yawe, nguya na Ye mpe bikamwa oyo asalaki.
They were not hid from their children to a second generations; [the fathers] declaring the praises of the Lord, and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought.
5 Apesaki malako mpo na bolamu ya Jakobi, atiaki mibeko kati na Isalaele, apesaki mitindo epai ya batata na biso ete bateya yango epai ya bana mibali na bango,
And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children:
6 mpo ete bikeke oyo ekoya sima eyeba yango, ekeke ya bana oyo bakobotama. Tika ete batelema mpe bayebisa yango na bana na bango,
that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children.
7 mpo ete batonga elikya na bango kati na Nzambe, babosana te misala ya Nzambe mpe babatela mibeko na Ye.
That they might set their hope on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek his commandments.
8 Boye, bakozala te lokola bakoko na bango, oyo bazalaki mito makasi mpe batomboki, oyo mitema na bango ezalaki sembo te na miso ya Nzambe, mpe milimo na bango ezangaki boyengebene epai na Ye.
That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Bato ya libota ya Efrayimi basimbaki batolotolo, kasi na mokolo ya etumba, bakimaki.
The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting [with] the bow, turned [back] in the day of battle.
10 Babatelaki te Boyokani ya Nzambe mpe baboyaki kotosa mibeko na Ye;
They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law.
11 babosanaki bikamwa na Ye mpe makambo minene oyo atalisaki bango.
And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he [had] showed them;
12 Na miso ya bakoko na bango, asalaki bikamwa kati na Ejipito, na etuka ya Tsoani;
the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes.
13 akabolaki ebale monene mpo na kolekisa bango, atelemisaki mayi lokola mir.
He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as [in] a bottle.
14 Na moyi, azalaki kotambolisa bango na nzela ya lipata; mpe na butu, na nzela ya pole ya moto.
And he guided them with a cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Apasolaki mabanga kati na esobe mpe amelisaki bango mayi ebele, lokola mayi ya bibale;
he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.
16 abimisaki mayi wuta na libanga mpe asalaki ete etiola lokola mayi ya ebale.
And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.
17 Kasi bakobaki kaka kosala masumu liboso na Ye, kotombokela Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo, kati na esobe.
And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
18 Bamekaki Nzambe na nko, na kosenga bilei kolanda posa na bango.
And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.
19 Balobaki mabe na tina na Nzambe: « Boni, Ye Nzambe azali penza na makoki ya kopesa biso bilei kati na esobe?
They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Solo, abetaki libanga, mayi ebimaki, mpe ebimaki penza ebele. Boni, akokoka lisusu kopesa biso mapa to misuni epai ya bato na Ye? »
Forasmuch as he struck the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?
21 Tango Yawe ayokaki bongo, asilikaki makasi; moto na Ye epelelaki Jakobi, mpe kanda makasi na Ye ekitelaki Isalaele,
Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.
22 pamba te batiaki elikya na Nzambe te, bandimaki te ete akoki kokangola bango.
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
23 Nzokande, apesaki mitindo na mapata mpe afungolaki bikuke ya likolo,
Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 anokiselaki bango mana lokola mvula mpo na kopesa bilei, apesaki bango ble ya Likolo.
and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.
25 Moko na moko aliaki mapa ya ba-anjelu. Atindelaki bango bilei ebele penza.
Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full.
26 Wuta na likolo, atindikaki mosika mopepe ya Este; mpe na nguya na Ye, amemaki mopepe ya Sude.
He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the southwest wind.
27 Anokiselaki bango misuni lokola putulu, bandeke ebele lokola zelo ya ebale monene;
And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
28 akweyiselaki bango yango kati na molako na bango, zingazinga ya bandako na bango ya kapo.
And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.
29 Baliaki mpe batondaki makasi; Nzambe apesaki bango biloko oyo bazalaki na yango posa.
So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.
30 Liboso ete posa na bango ekoka, wana bazalaki nanu na minoko etonda na bilei,
They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,
31 kanda ya Nzambe ekweyelaki bango, abomaki bato minene kati na bango, anyokolaki bilenge ya Isalaele.
then the indignation of God rose up against them, and killed the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.
32 Kasi atako bongo, bakobaki kaka kosala masumu, bandimaki kaka te bikamwa na Ye.
In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.
33 Boye, asukisaki mikolo ya bomoi na bango lokola mopepe, mpe mibu na bango ya mbotama kati na somo.
And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety.
34 Tango nyonso Nzambe azalaki koboma bango, bazalaki koluka Ye; bazalaki komizongisa noki epai na Ye.
When he killed them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
35 Bazalaki kozongisa na makanisi na bango ete Nzambe nde azali Libanga na bango, ete Nzambe-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo azali Mosikoli na bango.
And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
36 Kasi bazalaki koloba lokuta, minoko na bango ezalaki kokosa Ye;
Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 mitema na bango ezalaki sembo te na miso na Ye, mpe bazalaki kobuka Boyokani na Ye.
For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 Nzokande Ye, na mawa na Ye, azalaki kolimbisa mabe na bango na esika ya kobebisa bango; mbala mingi, azalaki kokanga motema na esika ya kopelisela bango kanda na Ye;
But he is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy [them]: yes, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger.
39 pamba te azalaki koyeba ete bazali kaka bato, bazali kaka lokola mopepe oyo ezali koleka mpe ekozonga lisusu te.
And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not.
40 Mbala mingi, batombokelaki Ye kati na esobe mpe bayokisaki Ye mawa kati na bisika ya kokawuka;
How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] anger him in a dry land!
41 bazalaki kozongela komeka Nzambe, koyokisa Mosantu ya Isalaele mawa.
Yes, they turned back, and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 Babosanaki makambo minene oyo asalaki na nguya na Ye, mokolo oyo akangolaki bango wuta na maboko ya monyokoli;
They remembered not his hand, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
43 babosanaki bikamwa oyo asalaki kati na Ejipito, misala minene oyo asalaki kati na etuka ya Tsoani.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes:
44 Abongolaki bibale na bango makila; boye, bakokaki lisusu te komela na mayi na bango.
and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink.
45 Atindelaki bango banzinzi oyo eswaka, mpe eliaki bango; mpe magorodo oyo ebebisaki bango.
He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them.
46 Akabaki bambuma ya bilanga na bango epai ya mabanki, mpe mbuma ya mosala na bango epai ya mankoko.
And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust.
47 Abebisaki bilanga na bango ya vino na nzela ya mvula ya mabanga, mpe banzete na bango ya sikomori na nzela ya mvula ya pembe;
He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.
48 akabaki bameme na bango epai ya mvula ya mabanga, mpe bibwele na bango epai ya kake.
And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire.
49 Atindelaki bango kanda na Ye ya makasi lokola moto: kanda makasi, kotomboka, pasi mpe ba-anjelu oyo babebisaka.
He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.
50 Apesaki na kanda na Ye nzela ya kopela, abatelaki bango te na kufa; kasi akabaki bango na bokono oyo ebomaka.
He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;
51 Abomaki bana mibali nyonso ya liboso kati na Ejipito, bambuma ya liboso ya makasi na bango na se ya bandako ya kapo ya Cham.
and struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt; the first fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham.
52 Abimisaki bato na Ye lokola etonga, amemaki bango kati na esobe lokola meme;
And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness.
53 atambolisaki bango na kimia penza, babangaki eloko te; mpe ebale monene emelaki banguna na bango.
And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies.
54 Amemaki bango na mokili na Ye ya bule, na ngomba oyo loboko na Ye ya nguya ezwaki;
And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.
55 abenganaki bikolo liboso na bango, apesaki bango etando lokola libula mpe avandisaki mabota ya Isalaele kati na bandako na bango ya kapo.
And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Kasi bamekaki Nzambe, batombokelaki Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo mpe babatelaki te malako na Ye;
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.
57 bapengwaki mpe babukaki mibeko ya boyokani, ndenge batata na bango basalaki; batengamaki lokola tolotolo oyo mbanzi na yango ekeyi na mopanzi;
And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.
58 bayokisaki Ye kanda na nzela ya bisambelo na bango ya likolo ya bangomba, mpe bapelisaki zuwa na Ye na nzela ya banzambe na bango ya bikeko.
And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Nzambe ayokaki mpe asilikaki makasi, abwakaki Isalaele mobimba;
God heard and lightly regarded [them], and greatly despised Israel.
60 asundolaki Mongombo ya Silo, ndako ya kapo oyo atelemisaki kati na bato,
And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he lived amongst men.
61 akabaki nguya na Ye na bowumbu, mpe lokumu na Ye na maboko ya monguna;
And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
62 akabaki bato na Ye na mopanga, mpe asilikelaki libula na Ye.
And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained his inheritance.
63 Moto etumbaki bilenge mibali, mpe banzembo ya libala eyembamaki lisusu te mpo na lokumu ya bilenge basi.
Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins mourned not.
64 Banganga-Nzambe bakufaki na mopanga, mpe basi oyo bakufisaki mibali balelaki te na banzembo ya matanga.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.
65 Nkolo alamukaki lokola moto oyo awuti na pongi, lokola moto oyo abimi na kwiti ya vino;
So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] as a mighty man who has been heated with wine.
66 azokisaki banguna na Ye na sima, wana bazalaki kokima, ayokisaki bango soni ya libela.
And he struck his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach.
67 Asundolaki bandako ya kapo ya Jozefi mpe aboyaki kopona libota ya Efrayimi;
And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 kasi aponaki libota ya Yuda, ngomba Siona oyo alingaki;
but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved.
69 atongaki Esika na Ye ya bule lokola bisika ya likolo makasi, lokola mabele oyo atia mpo na libela.
And he built his sanctuary as [the place] of unicorns; he founded it for ever on the earth.
70 Aponaki Davidi, mosali na Ye, mpe azwaki ye kati na lopango ya meme;
He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.
71 abengaki ye wuta na sima ya meme oyo azalaki kobatela mpo na kokomisa Ye mobateli ya Jakobi, bato na Ye, mpe ya Isalaele, libula na Ye.
He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Davidi abatelaki bango na motema ezanga pamela, mpe akambaki bango na maboko ya mayele.
So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
