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 Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth,
2 Nakofungola monoko na ngai mpo na lisese, nakosakola makambo oyo ebombama wuta na tango ya kala.
as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past.
3 Makambo oyo toyoka, oyo toyebi, oyo batata na biso bayebisa biso.
What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told 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 hide from their children. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders that he has 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,
He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make 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 the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children;
7 mpo ete batonga elikya na bango kati na Nzambe, babosana te misala ya Nzambe mpe babatela mibeko na Ye.
that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might keep 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 not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God.
9 Bato ya libota ya Efrayimi basimbaki batolotolo, kasi na mokolo ya etumba, bakimaki.
Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Babatelaki te Boyokani ya Nzambe mpe baboyaki kotosa mibeko na Ye;
They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law.
11 babosanaki bikamwa na Ye mpe makambo minene oyo atalisaki bango.
They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them.
12 Na miso ya bakoko na bango, asalaki bikamwa kati na Ejipito, na etuka ya Tsoani;
He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt.
13 akabolaki ebale monene mpo na kolekisa bango, atelemisaki mayi lokola mir.
Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap;
14 Na moyi, azalaki kotambolisa bango na nzela ya lipata; mpe na butu, na nzela ya pole ya moto.
he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire.
15 Apasolaki mabanga kati na esobe mpe amelisaki bango mayi ebele, lokola mayi ya bibale;
From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance.
16 abimisaki mayi wuta na libanga mpe asalaki ete etiola lokola mayi ya ebale.
He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers.
17 Kasi bakobaki kaka kosala masumu liboso na Ye, kotombokela Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo, kati na esobe.
Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamekaki Nzambe na nko, na kosenga bilei kolanda posa na bango.
They wilfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for.
19 Balobaki mabe na tina na Nzambe: « Boni, Ye Nzambe azali penza na makoki ya kopesa biso bilei kati na esobe?
‘Is God able,’ such was their challenge, ‘to spread in the desert a table?
20 Solo, abetaki libanga, mayi ebimaki, mpe ebimaki penza ebele. Boni, akokoka lisusu kopesa biso mapa to misuni epai ya bato na Ye? »
From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?’
21 Tango Yawe ayokaki bongo, asilikaki makasi; moto na Ye epelelaki Jakobi, mpe kanda makasi na Ye ekitelaki Isalaele,
When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel.
22 pamba te batiaki elikya na Nzambe te, bandimaki te ete akoki kokangola bango.
For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help.
23 Nzokande, apesaki mitindo na mapata mpe afungolaki bikuke ya likolo,
So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven,
24 anokiselaki bango mana lokola mvula mpo na kopesa bilei, apesaki bango ble ya Likolo.
he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them.
25 Moko na moko aliaki mapa ya ba-anjelu. Atindelaki bango bilei ebele penza.
Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full.
26 Wuta na likolo, atindikaki mosika mopepe ya Este; mpe na nguya na Ye, amemaki mopepe ya Sude.
He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power.
27 Anokiselaki bango misuni lokola putulu, bandeke ebele lokola zelo ya ebale monene;
He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea.
28 akweyiselaki bango yango kati na molako na bango, zingazinga ya bandako na bango ya kapo.
In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents.
29 Baliaki mpe batondaki makasi; Nzambe apesaki bango biloko oyo bazalaki na yango posa.
They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired.
30 Liboso ete posa na bango ekoka, wana bazalaki nanu na minoko etonda na bilei,
But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths,
31 kanda ya Nzambe ekweyelaki bango, abomaki bato minene kati na bango, anyokolaki bilenge ya Isalaele.
the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 Kasi atako bongo, bakobaki kaka kosala masumu, bandimaki kaka te bikamwa na Ye.
Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders.
33 Boye, asukisaki mikolo ya bomoi na bango lokola mopepe, mpe mibu na bango ya mbotama kati na somo.
So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay.
34 Tango nyonso Nzambe azalaki koboma bango, bazalaki koluka Ye; bazalaki komizongisa noki epai na Ye.
When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence.
35 Bazalaki kozongisa na makanisi na bango ete Nzambe nde azali Libanga na bango, ete Nzambe-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo azali Mosikoli na bango.
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;
But they flattered him 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.
Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to 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 full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all.
39 pamba te azalaki koyeba ete bazali kaka bato, bazali kaka lokola mopepe oyo ezali koleka mpe ekozonga lisusu te.
So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return.
40 Mbala mingi, batombokelaki Ye kati na esobe mpe bayokisaki Ye mawa kati na bisika ya kokawuka;
But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness,
41 bazalaki kozongela komeka Nzambe, koyokisa Mosantu ya Isalaele mawa.
tempting God again and again, provoking 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 did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe,
43 babosanaki bikamwa oyo asalaki kati na Ejipito, misala minene oyo asalaki kati na etuka ya Tsoani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders.
44 Abongolaki bibale na bango makila; boye, bakokaki lisusu te komela na mayi na bango.
He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable.
45 Atindelaki bango banzinzi oyo eswaka, mpe eliaki bango; mpe magorodo oyo ebebisaki bango.
He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them.
46 Akabaki bambuma ya bilanga na bango epai ya mabanki, mpe mbuma ya mosala na bango epai ya mankoko.
Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil 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 slew their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 akabaki bameme na bango epai ya mvula ya mabanga, mpe bibwele na bango epai ya kake.
He delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire.
49 Atindelaki bango kanda na Ye ya makasi lokola moto: kanda makasi, kotomboka, pasi mpe ba-anjelu oyo babebisaka.
He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels.
50 Apesaki na kanda na Ye nzela ya kopela, abatelaki bango te na kufa; kasi akabaki bango na bokono oyo ebomaka.
He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to 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.
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Abimisaki bato na Ye lokola etonga, amemaki bango kati na esobe lokola meme;
He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert.
53 atambolisaki bango na kimia penza, babangaki eloko te; mpe ebale monene emelaki banguna na bango.
Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea.
54 Amemaki bango na mokili na Ye ya bule, na ngomba oyo loboko na Ye ya nguya ezwaki;
To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain 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.
He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in.
56 Kasi bamekaki Nzambe, batombokelaki Ye-Oyo-Aleki-Likolo mpe babatelaki te malako na Ye;
Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees.
57 bapengwaki mpe babukaki mibeko ya boyokani, ndenge batata na bango basalaki; batengamaki lokola tolotolo oyo mbanzi na yango ekeyi na mopanzi;
They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous 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.
Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy.
59 Nzambe ayokaki mpe asilikaki makasi, abwakaki Isalaele mobimba;
When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly.
60 asundolaki Mongombo ya Silo, ndako ya kapo oyo atelemisaki kati na bato,
He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people.
61 akabaki nguya na Ye na bowumbu, mpe lokumu na Ye na maboko ya monguna;
He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe.
62 akabaki bato na Ye na mopanga, mpe asilikelaki libula na Ye.
He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own.
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 maidens had no marriage-song.
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 could not weep.
65 Nkolo alamukaki lokola moto oyo awuti na pongi, lokola moto oyo abimi na kwiti ya vino;
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine;
66 azokisaki banguna na Ye na sima, wana bazalaki kokima, ayokisaki bango soni ya libela.
and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn.
67 Asundolaki bandako ya kapo ya Jozefi mpe aboyaki kopona libota ya Efrayimi;
He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim;
68 kasi aponaki libota ya Yuda, ngomba Siona oyo alingaki;
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 atongaki Esika na Ye ya bule lokola bisika ya likolo makasi, lokola mabele oyo atia mpo na libela.
And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever.
70 Aponaki Davidi, mosali na Ye, mpe azwaki ye kati na lopango ya meme;
And he chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds.
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 the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance.
72 Davidi abatelaki bango na motema ezanga pamela, mpe akambaki bango na maboko ya mayele.
With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them.
