Banzembo 94
1 Yawe, Nzambe oyo azongisaka mabe na mabe, Nzambe oyo azongisaka mabe na mabe, mimonisa kati na nkembo na Yo!
The Lord is a God of vengeance! God of vengeance, shine out!
2 Mosambisi ya mokili, telema mpo na kozongisela bato ya lolendo mabe na mabe na bango!
Stand up, judge of the earth, and pay back those who are proud what they deserve.
3 Yawe, kino tango nini bato mabe, kino tango nini bato mabe bakosepela?
How long, Lord? How long will the wicked celebrate in triumph?
4 Bazali komilakisa, bazali kobimisa mafinga; bato nyonso ya misala mabe bazali komikumisa!
How long will you let them pour out their arrogant words? How long will these evil people go on boasting?
5 Yawe, bazali konyokola bato na Yo mpe bazali koyokisa libula na Yo pasi;
Lord, they crush your people; they oppress those you call your own.
6 bazali koboma mwasi oyo akufisa mobali, mopaya mpe bana bitike;
They kill widows and foreigners; they murder orphans.
7 bazali koloba: « Yawe amonaka eloko moko te, Nzambe ya Jakobi asosolaka eloko moko te! »
They say, “The Lord can't see what we're doing. Israel's God doesn't pay any attention to us.”
8 Bino bato ya kilikili, bososola! Bazoba, bokokoma mayele tango nini?
Take another look, you stupid people! Fools—when will you ever get the point?
9 Boni, Ye oyo asala litoyi akoki koyoka te? Ye oyo asala liso akoki komona te?
Do you think the creator of the ear can't hear? Do you think the maker of the eye can't see?
10 Ye oyo apesaka bikolo etumbu akoki kopesa etumbu te? Ye oyo apesaka bato boyebi.
Do you think that the one who punishes nations won't punish you too? Do you think that the one who teaches human beings knowledge doesn't know anything?
11 Yawe ayebi makanisi ya bato; ayebi ete ezali na tina te.
The Lord knows the thoughts of human beings—he knows they are pointless.
12 Yawe, esengo na moto oyo ozali kozongisa na nzela, moto oyo ozali kolakisa mibeko na Yo
Those you discipline are happy, Lord; those you teach from your Law.
13 mpo na kopesa ye bopemi na tango ya pasi, kino libulu etimolama mpo na moto mabe!
You give them peace in days of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap the wicked.
14 Pamba te Yawe asundolaka bato na Ye te, abwakaka libula na Ye te.
For the Lord will not give up on his people; he will not abandon his own.
15 Bakosambisa lisusu kolanda bosembo, mpe bato nyonso oyo bazali na mitema alima bakotosa bosembo yango.
Justice will once again be based on what is right; those who are sincere will support it.
16 Nani akotelema mpo na ngai mpo na kotelemela bato mabe? Nani akokotela ngai liboso ya bato ya misala mabe?
Who came to my defense against the wicked; who stood up for me against those who do evil?
17 Ah, soki Yawe asungaki ngai te, mbele nakendeki noki na mokili ya kufa!
If the Lord hadn't helped me, I would have soon gone down into the silence of the grave.
18 Soki nalobi: « Makolo na ngai ekomi kolenga na somo, » bolingo na Yo, Yawe, epesaka ngai makasi.
I shouted out, “My foot's slipping!” and your trustworthy love, Lord, kept me from falling.
19 Soki natungisami na makanisi ebele, kobondisama na Yo epesaka ngai esengo.
When my mind was full of worries, you comforted me and encouraged me.
20 Boni, bokonzi ya mabe oyo ememelaka bato pasi na nzela ya mibeko na yango; boni, ezali lisanga moko elongo na Yo?
Can unjust judges really be on your side, Lord, when their corrupt use of the law causes misery?
21 Bato mabe basanganaka mpo na kobundisa bomoi ya moto ya sembo mpe kokatela moto oyo asali mabe te etumbu ya kufa.
They work together to destroy good people; they condemn those who are innocent to death.
22 Kasi Yawe azali, mpo na ngai, ndako batonga makasi; Nzambe na ngai azali libanga epai wapi nazwaka ebombamelo.
But the Lord protects me like a fortress; my God is the rock that keeps me safe.
23 Akozongisela bango mabe na bango mpe akobebisa bango mpo na kanza na bango. Solo, Yawe, Nzambe na ngai, akoboma bango.
He will turn the wickedness of evil people back upon them; he will destroy them because of their sins; the Lord our God will destroy them.
