Banzembo 78
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Bino, bato na ngai, boyoka malako na ngai! Bopesa matoyi na maloba ya monoko na ngai!
“A Maskil of Assaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction: incline thy 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 with a parable my mouth: I will utter riddles out of ancient times;
3 Makambo oyo toyoka, oyo toyebi, oyo batata na biso bayebisa biso.
Which we have heard and know, and which our fathers have related unto 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.
We will not conceal them from their children, relating to the latest generation the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful deeds which he hath done.
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,
Yea, he established a testimony in Jacob, and instituted a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them 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,
In order that the latest generation might know them, even the children that are to be born; that they may arise and relate 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 may place in God their hope, and not forget the doings of God, but observe 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.
And that they may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that had not directed their heart firmly, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 Bato ya libota ya Efrayimi basimbaki batolotolo, kasi na mokolo ya etumba, bakimaki.
The children of Ephraim, like well-armed archers, that turn round on the day of battle,
10 Babatelaki te Boyokani ya Nzambe mpe baboyaki kotosa mibeko na Ye;
Kept not the covenant of God, and in his law they refused to walk;
11 babosanaki bikamwa na Ye mpe makambo minene oyo atalisaki bango.
And they forgot his deeds, as also his wonders, which he had permitted them to see.
12 Na miso ya bakoko na bango, asalaki bikamwa kati na Ejipito, na etuka ya Tsoani;
In the presence of their fathers did he do wonders, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
13 akabolaki ebale monene mpo na kolekisa bango, atelemisaki mayi lokola mir.
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters stand upright as a wall.
14 Na moyi, azalaki kotambolisa bango na nzela ya lipata; mpe na butu, na nzela ya pole ya moto.
And he led them with the 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 split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the mighty deep.
16 abimisaki mayi wuta na libanga mpe asalaki ete etiola lokola mayi ya ebale.
And he brought forth running streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.
17 Kasi bakobaki kaka kosala masumu liboso na Ye, kotombokela Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo, kati na esobe.
But they repeated to sin yet more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamekaki Nzambe na nko, na kosenga bilei kolanda posa na bango.
And they tempted God in their heart, by asking food for their desire.
19 Balobaki mabe na tina na Nzambe: « Boni, Ye Nzambe azali penza na makoki ya kopesa biso bilei kati na esobe?
Yea, they spoke against God: they said, Will God be able to set in order 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? »
Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed: shall he also be able to give bread? or can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Tango Yawe ayokaki bongo, asilikaki makasi; moto na Ye epelelaki Jakobi, mpe kanda makasi na Ye ekitelaki Isalaele,
Therefore, when the Lord heard this, he became wroth: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also ascended against Israel,
22 pamba te batiaki elikya na Nzambe te, bandimaki te ete akoki kokangola bango.
Because they had not believed in God, and had not trusted in his salvation.
23 Nzokande, apesaki mitindo na mapata mpe afungolaki bikuke ya likolo,
Then he ordained the skies from above, and the doors of heaven he opened;
24 anokiselaki bango mana lokola mvula mpo na kopesa bilei, apesaki bango ble ya Likolo.
And he let rain down upon them manna to eat, and the corn of heaven gave he unto them.
25 Moko na moko aliaki mapa ya ba-anjelu. Atindelaki bango bilei ebele penza.
Angels' bread did man eat: he sent them provision to satisfaction.
26 Wuta na likolo, atindikaki mosika mopepe ya Este; mpe na nguya na Ye, amemaki mopepe ya Sude.
He caused an east wind to pass along the heavens; and he led forth by his strength the south wind.
27 Anokiselaki bango misuni lokola putulu, bandeke ebele lokola zelo ya ebale monene;
And he let rain upon them flesh [as plentiful] as the dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea;
28 akweyiselaki bango yango kati na molako na bango, zingazinga ya bandako na bango ya kapo.
And he let them fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 Baliaki mpe batondaki makasi; Nzambe apesaki bango biloko oyo bazalaki na yango posa.
And they ate, and were greatly satisfied, and what they longed for he brought unto them.
30 Liboso ete posa na bango ekoka, wana bazalaki nanu na minoko etonda na bilei,
They were not estranged from their longing, yet was their food in their mouth:
31 kanda ya Nzambe ekweyelaki bango, abomaki bato minene kati na bango, anyokolaki bilenge ya Isalaele.
When the wrath of God ascended against them, and he slew some of the fattest of them, and the young men of Israel did he strike down.
32 Kasi atako bongo, bakobaki kaka kosala masumu, bandimaki kaka te bikamwa na Ye.
With all this they sinned again, and believed not in his wonders.
33 Boye, asukisaki mikolo ya bomoi na bango lokola mopepe, mpe mibu na bango ya mbotama kati na somo.
Therefore he caused their days to come to an end in nought, and their years in dread.
34 Tango nyonso Nzambe azalaki koboma bango, bazalaki koluka Ye; bazalaki komizongisa noki epai na Ye.
When he slew them, then did they seek him, and they returned and inquired earnestly after 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 rock, and the most high God their redeemer.
36 Kasi bazalaki koloba lokuta, minoko na bango ezalaki kokosa Ye;
Nevertheless they prayed insincerely to him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him.
37 mitema na bango ezalaki sembo te na miso na Ye, mpe bazalaki kobuka Boyokani na Ye.
For their heart was not firm with him, and they were not faithful 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, being merciful, forgave the iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not awaken all his fury.
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 but flesh, a spirit that passeth away, and returneth not again.
40 Mbala mingi, batombokelaki Ye kati na esobe mpe bayokisaki Ye mawa kati na bisika ya kokawuka;
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, grieve him in the desert!
41 bazalaki kozongela komeka Nzambe, koyokisa Mosantu ya Isalaele mawa.
Yea, they once more tempted God, and set limits to 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 when he ransomed them from the adversary;
43 babosanaki bikamwa oyo asalaki kati na Ejipito, misala minene oyo asalaki kati na etuka ya Tsoani.
When he displayed in Egypt his signs, and his wonderful tokens in the fields of Zo'an.
44 Abongolaki bibale na bango makila; boye, bakokaki lisusu te komela na mayi na bango.
And he changed their rivers into blood; and their running streams, that they could not drink [of them].
45 Atindelaki bango banzinzi oyo eswaka, mpe eliaki bango; mpe magorodo oyo ebebisaki bango.
He sent out among them various wild beasts, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Akabaki bambuma ya bilanga na bango epai ya mabanki, mpe mbuma ya mosala na bango epai ya mankoko.
And he gave unto the cricket their products, and their labor unto 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 slew with hail their vines, and their sycamore-trees with ice-bolts.
48 akabaki bameme na bango epai ya mvula ya mabanga, mpe bibwele na bango epai ya kake.
And he surrendered to the hail their cattle, and their herds to the lightning's flashes.
49 Atindelaki bango kanda na Ye ya makasi lokola moto: kanda makasi, kotomboka, pasi mpe ba-anjelu oyo babebisaka.
He let loose against them the fierceness of his anger, wrath and indignation, and distress, a host of angels of misfortune.
50 Apesaki na kanda na Ye nzela ya kopela, abatelaki bango te na kufa; kasi akabaki bango na bokono oyo ebomaka.
He leveled a path for his anger; he withheld not from death their soul, and their life he surrendered to the pestilence;
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 he smote all the first-born in Egypt; the first of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 Abimisaki bato na Ye lokola etonga, amemaki bango kati na esobe lokola meme;
But he caused his own people to depart like flocks, and guided them like a drove in the wilderness.
53 atambolisaki bango na kimia penza, babangaki eloko te; mpe ebale monene emelaki banguna na bango.
And he led them in safety, so that they felt no dread; but the sea covered over their enemies.
54 Amemaki bango na mokili na Ye ya bule, na ngomba oyo loboko na Ye ya nguya ezwaki;
And he brought them to his holy territory, even to this mount, which his right hand had acquired.
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 drove out from before them nations, and divided them by the measuring-line as an inheritance, and he caused to dwell in their tents the tribes of Israel.
56 Kasi bamekaki Nzambe, batombokelaki Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo mpe babatelaki te malako na Ye;
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the most high God, and his testimonies they kept not;
57 bapengwaki mpe babukaki mibeko ya boyokani, ndenge batata na bango basalaki; batengamaki lokola tolotolo oyo mbanzi na yango ekeyi na mopanzi;
But swerved aside, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers; they turned about like a deceitful 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 to anger with their high-places, and with their graven images they moved him to jealousy.
59 Nzambe ayokaki mpe asilikaki makasi, abwakaki Isalaele mobimba;
God heard this, and he became wroth, and felt greatly disgusted with Israel;
60 asundolaki Mongombo ya Silo, ndako ya kapo oyo atelemisaki kati na bato,
And he cast off the dwelling at Shiloh, the tabernacle where he had dwelt among men;
61 akabaki nguya na Ye na bowumbu, mpe lokumu na Ye na maboko ya monguna;
And he gave up his strength unto captivity, and his glory into the adversary's hand.
62 akabaki bato na Ye na mopanga, mpe asilikelaki libula na Ye.
And he surrendered his people unto the sword; and with his inheritance was he wroth.
63 Moto etumbaki bilenge mibali, mpe banzembo ya libala eyembamaki lisusu te mpo na lokumu ya bilenge basi.
His young men the fire devoured; and his virgins were not demanded in marriage.
64 Banganga-Nzambe bakufaki na mopanga, mpe basi oyo bakufisaki mibali balelaki te na banzembo ya matanga.
His priests fell by the sword; and his widows did not weep.
65 Nkolo alamukaki lokola moto oyo awuti na pongi, lokola moto oyo abimi na kwiti ya vino;
Then awoke the Lord as one that sleepeth, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 azokisaki banguna na Ye na sima, wana bazalaki kokima, ayokisaki bango soni ya libela.
And he smote his enemies backward: a perpetual disgrace on them.
67 Asundolaki bandako ya kapo ya Jozefi mpe aboyaki kopona libota ya Efrayimi;
Yet was he disgusted with the tent of Joseph, and of the tribe of Ephraim he made not choice;
68 kasi aponaki libota ya Yuda, ngomba Siona oyo alingaki;
But he chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion 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 like high [mountains] his sanctuary, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.
70 Aponaki Davidi, mosali na Ye, mpe azwaki ye kati na lopango ya meme;
And he made choice of David his servant, and took him from the sheep-folds:
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.
From following the ewes with young he brought him, to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Davidi abatelaki bango na motema ezanga pamela, mpe akambaki bango na maboko ya mayele.
And he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and by the skilfulness of his hands did he lead them.
