Banzembo 78
1 Nzembo ya Azafi. Bino, bato na ngai, boyoka malako na ngai! Bopesa matoyi na maloba ya monoko na ngai!
A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn 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.
I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Makambo oyo toyoka, oyo toyebi, oyo batata na biso bayebisa biso.
which we have heard and known, and our fathers 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 them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds 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,
For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching 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,
that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who 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 they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but 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 might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 Bato ya libota ya Efrayimi basimbaki batolotolo, kasi na mokolo ya etumba, bakimaki.
The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Babatelaki te Boyokani ya Nzambe mpe baboyaki kotosa mibeko na Ye;
They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk by his Torah.
11 babosanaki bikamwa na Ye mpe makambo minene oyo atalisaki bango.
They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
12 Na miso ya bakoko na bango, asalaki bikamwa kati na Ejipito, na etuka ya Tsoani;
He did marvellous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 akabolaki ebale monene mpo na kolekisa bango, atelemisaki mayi lokola mir.
He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
14 Na moyi, azalaki kotambolisa bango na nzela ya lipata; mpe na butu, na nzela ya pole ya moto.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all 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 abundantly as out of the depths.
16 abimisaki mayi wuta na libanga mpe asalaki ete etiola lokola mayi ya ebale.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to 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 to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamekaki Nzambe na nko, na kosenga bilei kolanda posa na bango.
They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
19 Balobaki mabe na tina na Nzambe: « Boni, Ye Nzambe azali penza na makoki ya kopesa biso bilei kati na esobe?
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God 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? »
Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat 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 angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22 pamba te batiaki elikya na Nzambe te, bandimaki te ete akoki kokangola bango.
because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation [yeshuat].
23 Nzokande, apesaki mitindo na mapata mpe afungolaki bikuke ya likolo,
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24 anokiselaki bango mana lokola mvula mpo na kopesa bilei, apesaki bango ble ya Likolo.
He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
25 Moko na moko aliaki mapa ya ba-anjelu. Atindelaki bango bilei ebele penza.
Man 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 caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
27 Anokiselaki bango misuni lokola putulu, bandeke ebele lokola zelo ya ebale monene;
He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
28 akweyiselaki bango yango kati na molako na bango, zingazinga ya bandako na bango ya kapo.
He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
29 Baliaki mpe batondaki makasi; Nzambe apesaki bango biloko oyo bazalaki na yango posa.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
30 Liboso ete posa na bango ekoka, wana bazalaki nanu na minoko etonda na bilei,
They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
31 kanda ya Nzambe ekweyelaki bango, abomaki bato minene kati na bango, anyokolaki bilenge ya Isalaele.
when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
32 Kasi atako bongo, bakobaki kaka kosala masumu, bandimaki kaka te bikamwa na Ye.
For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
33 Boye, asukisaki mikolo ya bomoi na bango lokola mopepe, mpe mibu na bango ya mbotama kati na somo.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
34 Tango nyonso Nzambe azalaki koboma bango, bazalaki koluka Ye; bazalaki komizongisa noki epai na Ye.
When he killed them, then they enquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
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, 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.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they 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 iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
39 pamba te azalaki koyeba ete bazali kaka bato, bazali kaka lokola mopepe oyo ezali koleka mpe ekozonga lisusu te.
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
40 Mbala mingi, batombokelaki Ye kati na esobe mpe bayokisaki Ye mawa kati na bisika ya kokawuka;
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
41 bazalaki kozongela komeka Nzambe, koyokisa Mosantu ya Isalaele mawa.
They turned again 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 didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
43 babosanaki bikamwa oyo asalaki kati na Ejipito, misala minene oyo asalaki kati na etuka ya Tsoani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
44 Abongolaki bibale na bango makila; boye, bakokaki lisusu te komela na mayi na bango.
he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 Atindelaki bango banzinzi oyo eswaka, mpe eliaki bango; mpe magorodo oyo ebebisaki bango.
He sent amongst them swarms of flies, 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.
He also gave their increase to the caterpillar, and their labour 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 destroyed their vines with hail, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
48 akabaki bameme na bango epai ya mvula ya mabanga, mpe bibwele na bango epai ya kake.
He also gave over their livestock to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Atindelaki bango kanda na Ye ya makasi lokola moto: kanda makasi, kotomboka, pasi mpe ba-anjelu oyo babebisaka.
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
50 Apesaki na kanda na Ye nzela ya kopela, abatelaki bango te na kufa; kasi akabaki bango na bokono oyo ebomaka.
He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, but gave their life over 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 struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Abimisaki bato na Ye lokola etonga, amemaki bango kati na esobe lokola meme;
But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 atambolisaki bango na kimia penza, babangaki eloko te; mpe ebale monene emelaki banguna na bango.
He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Amemaki bango na mokili na Ye ya bule, na ngomba oyo loboko na Ye ya nguya ezwaki;
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
55 abenganaki bikolo liboso na bango, apesaki bango etando lokola libula mpe avandisaki mabota ya Isalaele kati na bandako na bango ya kapo.
He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, 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 rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,
57 bapengwaki mpe babukaki mibeko ya boyokani, ndenge batata na bango basalaki; batengamaki lokola tolotolo oyo mbanzi na yango ekeyi na mopanzi;
but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted 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.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
59 Nzambe ayokaki mpe asilikaki makasi, abwakaki Isalaele mobimba;
When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60 asundolaki Mongombo ya Silo, ndako ya kapo oyo atelemisaki kati na bato,
so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed amongst men,
61 akabaki nguya na Ye na bowumbu, mpe lokumu na Ye na maboko ya monguna;
and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
62 akabaki bato na Ye na mopanga, mpe asilikelaki libula na Ye.
He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with 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. Their virgins had no wedding 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 couldn’t weep.
65 Nkolo alamukaki lokola moto oyo awuti na pongi, lokola moto oyo abimi na kwiti ya vino;
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
66 azokisaki banguna na Ye na sima, wana bazalaki kokima, ayokisaki bango soni ya libela.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Asundolaki bandako ya kapo ya Jozefi mpe aboyaki kopona libota ya Efrayimi;
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 kasi aponaki libota ya Yuda, ngomba Siona oyo alingaki;
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
69 atongaki Esika na Ye ya bule lokola bisika ya likolo makasi, lokola mabele oyo atia mpo na libela.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
70 Aponaki Davidi, mosali na Ye, mpe azwaki ye kati na lopango ya meme;
He also chose David his servant, and took 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 following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
72 Davidi abatelaki bango na motema ezanga pamela, mpe akambaki bango na maboko ya mayele.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
