< Banzembo 90 >

1 Losambo ya Moyize, moto na Nzambe. Oh Nkolo, ozalaki ekimelo na biso, na bikeke nyonso.
BOOK FOURTH: “A prayer of Moses the man of God.” Lord, a place of refuge hast thou been unto us in all generations.
2 Liboso ete bangomba ezala, liboso ete okela mabele mpe mokili, libela na libela, ozali Nzambe.
Before yet the mountains were brought forth, or thou hadst ever produced the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3 Ozongisaka moto na putulu, pamba te oloba: « Bino bato, bozonga na putulu! »
Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Return ye children of men.
4 Na miso na Yo, mibu nkoto moko ezali lokola mokolo ya lobi oyo esili koleka, lokola ngonga moko ya butu.
For a thousand years are in thy eyes but as the yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Olekisaka yango lokola pongi ya butu, oyo na tongo, esilaka lokola lititi.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning [they grow] like the grass which changeth.
6 Na tongo, ebimisaka fololo mpe etelaka noki; kasi na pokwa, enzulukaka mpe ekawuki.
In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.
7 Kanda na Yo elembisaka biso nzoto, mpe kanda makasi na Yo epesaka biso bobangi.
For [thus] are we consumed by thy anger, and by thy fury are we terrified.
8 Otiaka masumu na biso liboso na Yo mpe obimisaka na polele makambo oyo tobombaka.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our concealed sins before the light of thy countenance.
9 Mikolo nyonso ya bomoi na biso elimwaka mpo na kanda na Yo, mpe mibu na biso esilaka lokola kolela.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we consume our years like a word that is spoken.
10 Molayi ya bomoi na biso ekoki kozala mibu tuku sambo to mibu tuku mwambe mpo na bato oyo baleki makasi; nzokande, etondi na pasi mpe na minyoko, pamba te elekaka noki, mpe tolimwaka.
The days of our years in this life are seventy years; and if by uncommon vigor they be eighty, yet is their greatness trouble and mishap; for it soon hasteneth off, and we fly away.
11 Nani ayebi makasi ya kanda na Yo? Moto oyo azalaka na botosi mingi epai na Yo asosolaka malamu kanda makasi na Yo.
Who knoweth the strength of thy anger, and thy wrath which is like the fear of thee?
12 Lakisa biso kotanga malamu mikolo ya bomoi na biso mpo ete tokoma na mitema ya bwanya.
Let us then know how to number our days, that we may obtain a heart endowed with wisdom.
13 Yawe, lembisa moke! Kino tango nini ekowumela? Yokela basali na Yo mawa!
Return, O Lord, how long yet? and bethink thee concerning thy servants.
14 Tongo nyonso, tondisaka biso na bolingo na Yo mpe tokoganga na esengo, mpe tokosepela mikolo nyonso ya bomoi na biso.
O satisfy us in the morning with thy kindness, that we may be glad and rejoice throughout all our days.
15 Zongisela biso na mikolo ya esengo, mikolo oyo onyokolaki biso; zongisela biso na mibu ya esengo, mibu oyo tomonaki pasi.
Cause us to rejoice as many days as those wherein thou hast afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen unhappiness.
16 Tika ete biso, basali na Yo, tomona misala na Yo; mpe ete bana na biso bamona kongenga makasi ya nkembo na Yo!
Let thy act be visible on thy servants, and thy majesty over their children.
17 Tika ete boboto ya Nkolo, Nzambe na biso, ezala elongo na biso! Mpo na biso, sala ete misala na biso ekende liboso! Iyo, sala ete misala na biso ekende kaka liboso!
And may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and the work of our hands do thou firmly establish upon us: yea, the work of our hands—firmly establish thou it.

< Banzembo 90 >