Loyembo ya Salomo 3
1 Butu mobimba, na mbeto na ngai, nazali koluka mobali oyo motema na ngai elingaka; naluki ye, kasi namonaki ye te.
All through the night [while I lay] on my bed, I longed for the one whom I love. I desired for him [to come], but he did not come.
2 Esengeli na ngai kolamuka sik’oyo mpe kobima libanda ya engumba, na balabala na yango mpe na bisika oyo bato nyonso bakutanaka; nakoluka mobali oyo motema na ngai elingaka. Nalukaki ye, kasi namonaki ye te.
[So I said to myself], “I will get up now and walk around the city, through the streets and plazas, to search for the one whom I love.” [So] I [got up and] searched for him, but I could not find him.
3 Bakengeli bamonaki ngai tango bazalaki koleka-leka na balabala ya engumba. Natunaki bango: « Bomoneli ngai te mobali oyo motema na ngai elingaka? »
The city watchmen saw me while they were patrolling/walking around the city. [I asked them], “Have you seen the one whom I love?”
4 Tango kaka nalekaki bango, mbala moko, namonaki mobali oyo motema na ngai elingaka. Nakangaki ye mpe natikaki ye lisusu te kokende. Namemaki ye kino na ndako ya mama na ngai, na shambre ya mwasi oyo abotaki ngai.
As soon as I walked past them, I found the one whom I love. I clung to him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room where my mother had conceived me (OR, where I was born).
5 Bilenge basi ya Yelusalemi, nabondeli bino na kombo ya mboloko mpe ya mbuli ya bilanga: Bolamusa Bolingo na ngai te liboso ete ye moko akoma na posa ya kolamuka.
You women of Jerusalem, solemnly promise me, while the does and gazelles [are listening], that you will not disturb us while we are making love until we are ready to quit.
6 Nani oyo abimi na esobe lokola molinga oyo ezali komata, azali kobimisa solo ya malasi ya mire mpe ya ansa, oyo basali na biloko ya mike-mike ya solo kitoko ya moto ya mombongo?
Who is it that is coming from the desert, who is [stirring up dust] like a column of smoke from burning myrrh and incense [made from] spices [imported by] merchants?
7 Tala! Ezali nde tsipoyi ya mokonzi Salomo! Basoda na ye ya mpiko, bato ya lokumu ya Isalaele, tuku motoba nde bamemi yango.
It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.
8 Bango nyonso balati mipanga; bango nyonso bazali makasi na bitumba, baselingwa mpo na bitumba ya butu.
They all have swords and they [all] (are trained to/know well how to) use them. Each one has his sword [strapped to] his side and [is prepared to defend Solomon from] dangers that might occur even during the night.
9 Mokonzi Salomo asalisaki tsipoyi; basalaki yango na mabaya ya mboka Libani.
King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.
10 Basalaki bisimbelo na yango na palata, mokongo na yango, na wolo. Balatisaki evandelo na yango bilamba ya motuya ya langi ya motane makasi. Bongo, bilenge basi ya Yelusalemi babongisaki kati na yango na motema ya bolingo.
The [canopy that covered it] was (held up/supported) by posts made of silver, and the back of the chair was [embroidered] with gold. The seat/cushion was covered with purple cloth lovingly made/woven by the women of Jerusalem.
11 Bino bilenge basi ya Siona, bobima; botala ndenge nini mokonzi Salomo alati motole, motole oyo mama na ye alatisaki ye na mokolo ya libala na ye, na mokolo oyo motema na ye ezalaki na esengo.
You women of Jerusalem, come and look at King Solomon wearing the headdress that his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, the day when he [SYN] was very happy.
