Banzembo 49

1 Nzembo ya bana ya Kore. Wuta na buku ya mokambi ya bayembi. Bino bikolo nyonso, boyoka malamu makambo oyo; bino bavandi nyonso ya mokili, boyoka,

To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

3 Monoko na ngai ekoloba maloba ya bwanya; motema na ngai ekanisi makambo oyo ekopesa bino bososoli.

My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.

4 Nayokaka masese, mpe nalimbolaka sambole na nzela ya lindanda.

I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

5 Mpo na nini nabanga na tango ya pasi, tango mabe ya bakosi ezingeli ngai,

Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

6 ba-oyo batielaka bomengo na bango motema mpe bamikumisaka mpo na bofuluki ya bozwi na bango?

Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

7 Moko te akoki kosikola ndeko na ye, moko te akoki kofuta mbongo epai ya Nzambe mpo na lisiko na ye.

A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

8 Talo ya bomoi na ye eleki motuya makasi, mpe ekotikala kofutama te.

And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.

9 Akokaki kozala na bomoi libela na libela, mpe akokaki kokufa te.

And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

10 Solo, tomonaka bato ya bwanya kokufa elongo na zoba mpe moto oyo azangi mayele, mpe batikaka bomengo na bango epai ya bato mosusu.

For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

11 Bakunda na bango nde ekomaka bandako na bango mpo na libela, mpe bisika na bango ya kovanda mpo na seko na seko, atako bapesaki na bitando na bango ya mabele bakombo na bango mpo ete ebengamaka na yango.

Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12 Mozwi akowumelaka te na bomoi; ata aleki na lokumu, akokani na nyama oyo ezali kokufa.

And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

13 Yango nde suka ya bato oyo batiaka elikya kati na bango moko, ya bato oyo balandaka bango mpe basepelaka na maloba na bango.

This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (Selah)

14 Bazali lokola bameme mpe babongisami mpo na mboka ya bakufi; kufa ekokoma kobokola bango. Kala te, bato ya sembo bakonyata bango, kitoko na bango ekonzuluka, mpe mboka ya bakufi ekokoma ndako na bango. (Sheol h7585)

As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)

15 Kasi Nzambe akokangola bomoi na ngai wuta na maboko ya mboka ya bakufi, pamba te akokamata ngai. (Sheol h7585)

Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Komitungisaka te soki moto moko akomi kofuluka na bozwi, soki kongenga ya ndako na ye ekomi komata se komata.

Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

17 Pamba te akomema ata eloko moko te tango akokufa; bomengo na ye ekolanda ye te.

For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

18 Atako, wana azalaki na bomoi, azalaki komimona moto apambolama— atako bato bakokumisa yo, pamba te omisali bolamu—

For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

19 okokende kaka kokutana na bakoko na yo oyo bakotikala komona lisusu pole te.

It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

20 Moto oyo azali mozwi, kasi azangi bososoli, azali lokola nyama oyo ezali kokufa.

Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!