Psalms 78

1 Nkunga Asafi. A batu bama, wanu malongi mama! Dimbanu mambu ma munu ama.

An Instructive Psalm. Asaph’s. Give ear, O my people, to mine instruction, Bend your ear to the sayings of my mouth;

2 Ndiela zibula munu ama mu tuba zingana ayi ndiela samuna mambu ma suama, mambu makhulu;

I will open, in a parable, my mouth, I will pour forth enigmas out of antiquity; —

3 momo tuwa ayi momo tuzaba ayi momo bakulu beto batukamba;

Which we have heard, and come to know, And, our fathers, have recounted to us;

4 Tulendi masuekila ko bana bawu; tuela samuna kuidi tsungi yinkuiza mavanga ma Yave mafueti zitusu, lulendo luandi ayi matsiminanga momo kavanga.

We will not withhold [them] from their children, To a later generation, recounting the praises of Yahweh, Even his might and his wonders which he wrought;

5 Wuvana zithumunu mu diambu di Yakobi. Wukubika Mina mu Iseli, ayi wutumina bakulu beto muingi bamilonga kuidi bana bawu;

When he set up a testimony in Jacob, And, a law, appointed in Israel, —Which he commanded our fathers, That they might make them known to their children;

6 buna tsungi yinkuiza, yela zaba mawu buela bana bobo babutuki ko ayi bawu mamvawu mu thangu awu bela yolukila bana bawu;

To the end, A later generation, might come to know, Children who should be born, Who should arise, and recount [them] to their children;

7 buna bela tula diana diawu mu Nzambi, ayi balendi zimbakana mavanga mandi ko, vayi bela keba zithumunu ziandi;

That they might set, in Elohim, their confidence, —And not forget the doings of El, But, his commandments, might observe;

8 Balendi ba banga bakulu bawu ko; tsungi yikambulu bulemvo, ayi tsungi yi matingu; bobo mintima misia ba mifuana ko kuidi Nzambi bobo pheve yisia yikuikama kuidi Nzambi ko.

And not become, like their fathers, a generation stubborn and rebellious, —A generation that fixed not their heart, Neither was their spirit, faithful with GOD.

9 Batu ba Efalayimi bobo baba ayi mimbasa, bavutuka ku mbusa mu lumbu ki mvita.

The sons of Ephraim—armed bowmen, Turned in the day of battle;

10 Basi keba ko Nguizani yi Nzambi, ayi bamanga zingila boso buididi Mina miandi.

They kept not the covenant of God, And, in his law, refused to walk;

11 Bazimbakana momo kavanga; matsiminanga momo kabamonisa.

And forgat His doings, And his wonders which he had showed them:

12 Wuvanga bikumu va ntuala bakulu bawu mu tsi yi Ezipite; mu zunga ki Tsowani.

In presence of their fathers, wrought he, wondrously, —In the land of Egypt—the field of Zoan:

13 Wuvasa mbu ayi wuba viokila muawu; wutelimisa nlangu dio ngui banga baka.

He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through, And reared up the waters like a mound;

14 Wuba diatisa mu dituti va muini, ayi mu kiezila ki mbazu va builu bu mvimba.

And led them, by a cloud, in the daytime, And all the night, by a light of fire;

15 Wubasa matadi mu dikanga, ayi wuba vana nlangu wuwombo banga mbu;

He used to cleave rocks in the desert, And let them drink as out of mighty deeps;

16 Wutotula mimvuila minlangu mu ditadi ayi wukumbisa minlangu banga minlangu minneni.

And he brought forth streams out of the cliff, And caused waters to flow down, like rivers.

17 Vayi babuela tatamana sumuka diaka va ntualꞌandi; batinguna Nzambi Yizangama mu dikanga.

But again, once more sinned they against him, Resisting the Most High in a land of drought:

18 Batota Nzambi mu luzolo lungolo, mu lombanga mu kingolo bidia biobi batomba.

They put GOD to the proof in their heart, By asking food to their mind:

19 Batubidila Nzambi batuba: “Nzambi beki kuandi bu kubikila meza mu dikanga e?

Yea they spake against Elohim, —They said, Can GOD prepare a table in the desert?

20 Bu kabula ditadi dingolo, mbadi nlangu wutotuka ayi mimvuila mikumba mu buwombo vayi buna wulendi kuandi kutuvana bidia e? Wulendi kuandi kubika zimbizi mu diambu di batu bandi e?”

Lo! he hath smitten a rock, And waters, have gushed out, Yea, torrents, have rushed along, —Food also, can he give? Or provide flesh for his people?

21 Yave bu kaba wa, wufuema ngolo, mbazu andi yilema mu diambu di Yakobi ayi miangu miandi mibuila Iseli.

Therefore, Yahweh hearkened, and became wroth, —And, a fire, was kindled against Jacob, Moreover also, anger, mounted against Israel;

22 Bila basia wilukila Nzambi ko, voti basia tula diana diawu mu khudulu andi ko.

Because, They believed not in God, Nor trusted in his salvation;

23 Muaki wuvana lutumunu kuidi matuti ma yilu ayi wuzibula mielo mi diyilu;

Though he had commanded the skies above, And, the doors of the heavens, had opened;

24 Wunokisa mana mu diambu di batu muingi badia; wuba vana zitheti zi diyilu.

And had rained on them manna to eat, And, the corn of the heavens, had given to them:

25 Batu badia dipha di zimbasi; wuba fidisila bidia bioso biobi balenda dia.

The food of the mighty, each one did eat, Nourishment, sent he them to the full;

26 Wuvevumuna phemo yi Esite mu diyilu. Wudiata ku ntuala phemo yi Sude mu lulendo luandi.

He let loose an east wind in the heavens, Then guided he, in his might, a south wind;

27 Wuba nokisila zimbizi banga mbungi-mbungi; zinuni zieti dumuka banga nzielo yi mbu.

And rained upon them flesh as the dust, And, like the sand of the seas, birds of wing;

28 Wuba buisila biawu va khatitsika ka kiawu; muyenda zinzo ziawu zioso zingoto.

And let them fall in the midst of their camp, —Round about their habitations.

29 Badia nate bayukuta kuwombo; ayi wuba vana biobi baleba mu kingolo.

So they did eat and were abundantly filled, When, what they longed for, he had brought them: —

30 Tuamina batamba bidia biobi baleba mu kingolo mbusa, buela bikidi mu miunu miawu.

They had not turned away from what they had longed for, Yet was their food in their mouth,

31 Nganzi yi Nzambi yi babuila; wuvonda bobo baluta ba zinitu zingolo mu bawu; wuvonda bana ba matoko ma Iseli.

When, the anger of God, mounted against them, And he slew of their vigorous youths, And, the choice young men of Israel, caused he to bow down in death.

32 Ka diambu ko mambu moso momo, batatamana vola masumu ka diambu ko matsiminanga mandi, basia wilukila ko.

For all this, sinned they still, And believed not in his wonders;

33 Buna wumanisa bilumbu biawu mu phamba ayi mimvu miawu mu tsisi.

So he ended, in a breath, their days, And their years, in a sudden terror!

34 Kadika khumbu kaba kuba vondanga, tombanga baba kuntombanga, balukanga nsualu-nsualu diaka kuidi niandi.

If he slew [of] them, then they sought him, Yea they turned, and did earnestly seek GOD;

35 Batebuka moyo ti Nzambi niandi wuba dibanga diawu ayi Nzambi Yizangama niandi nkudi awu.

And remembered that, Elohim, was their rock, Yea, EL Most High, their Redeemer:

36 Vayi buna bankamba mambu ma lueki mu miunu miawu bamvuna mu ludimi luawu.

So they spake him fair with their mouth, And, with their tongue, did promise him falsely;

37 Mintima miawu misia ba mifuana kuidi niandi ko basia ba bakuikama ko mu Nguizani andi.

But, their heart, was not fixed with him, Nor were they trusty in his covenant:

38 Vayi niandi wuba nkua kiadi wuba lemvukila mambimbi mawu kasia babunga ko thangu ka thangu wudekula nganzi andi ayi kasia totula ko miangu miandi mioso.

Yet, he, full of compassion, would put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and not destroy, —Yea, many a time, turned he back his anger, And would not stir up all his wrath.

39 Wutebuka moyo ti baba minsuni kaka; phemo yeti vioka yoyi yilendi vutuka ko. Ayi wulendi buela vutuka ko.

So then he remembered, That, Flesh, they were, A Wind departing, that returneth not.

40 Zikhumbu ziwombo bantingunina mu dikanga, ayi bansoka mu bibuangu bikambulu batu.

How often they, Resisted him in the desert, Vexed him, in the waste:

41 Khumbu ka khumbu baba vutukilanga diaka tota Nzambi; bafuemisa mutu wunlongo wu Iseli kiadi.

Yea they again put GOD to the test, And, to the Holy One of Israel, caused they sorrow:

42 Basia tebukila ko moyo lulendo luandi mu lumbu kioki kaba kula mu mioko mi mutu wuba yamisa;

They remembered not his hand—The day, When he ransomed them from the adversary;

43 mu lumbu kamonisa bidimbu bi bikumu biandi mu Ezipite, mambu mandi matsiminanga mu ndambu tsi yi Tsowani

When he set, in Egypt, his signs, And his wonders, in the plain of Zoan;

44 wukitula minlangu miawu menga; basia buela baka bumina mu mimvuila mi minlangu miawu.

When he turned, into blood, their Nile-streams, And, their own rivers, could they not drink;

45 Wufidisa nkangu zinzinzi ziozi zibadia ayi zinguanga ziozi zi babunga.

He sent among them, The gad-fly, and it devoured them, And the frog, and it despoiled them;

46 Wavana mimbutu miawu mu zitsola kuidi binzienzi biobi basala kuidi makhoko.

When he gave to the corn-locust their produce, And their toil, to the swarming locust;

47 Wumana bunga zindima ziawu zi vinu mu mvula yi matadi ayi minti miawu mi sikomole mu kiozi ki ngolo,

He killed, with hail, their vine, And their sycomores, with frost:

48 wuyekula bibulu biawu kuidi mvula yi matadi ayi minkangu mi mamemi mawu kuidi lusiemo.

When he gave up, to hail-storms, their beasts, And their cattle, to pestilent fevers;

49 Wuba fidisila nganzi andi yi mbazu, miangu miandi mi ngolo khakumusu, kimbeni weti bunga

He sent among them the heat of his anger, Wrath and indignation and distress, —A mission of messengers of misfortune:

50 Wukubika nsolo mu diambu di nganzi andi kasia kuba tanina ko mu lufua; vayi wuba yekula mu minsongo;

He leveled a path for his anger, Withheld not, from death, their soul, But, their life—to the pestilence, he delivered:

51 Wuvonda bana boso batheti bababakala ba Ezipiti mimbutu mitheti mi zingolo mu zinzo zi ngoto zi Hami.

So he smote, Every first-born in Egypt, The beginning of their strength, in the tents of Ham;

52 Vayi wutotula batu bandi banga mamemi; wuba tuadisa banga nkangu wu bibulu mu dikanga.

And he set forth, like sheep, his people, And guided them, like a flock in the desert;

53 Wuba diatisila mu luvovomo; diawu basia mona tsisi ko ayi mbu wumina bambeni ziawu.

Yea he led them securely, and they dreaded not, And, their enemies, the sea did cover.

54 Buna wuba kotisa mu yenda tsi andi yinlongo; ku tsi yi mongo wowo koko kuandi ku lubakala kukibakila.

Then brought he them within his own holy bounds, The mountain-range, which his right hand made his own:

55 Wukuka makanda ku ntualꞌawu; ayi wuba kabudila mintoto miawu banga kiuka wuvuandisa makanda ma Iseli mu zinzo ziawu.

So he drave out, before them, [whole] nations, And allotted them, by line, an inheritance, And caused to dwell, in their own homes, the tribes of Israel.

56 Vayi batota Nzambi ayi batinguna Nzambi Yizangama; basia keba zinzengolo ziandi ko.

But they tested and resisted God Most High, And, his testimonies, did not observe;

57 Banga madisa mawu basia ba bafuana ko ayi basia ba minu ko balendi tudulu diana ko banga wuvenga.

But drew back and dealt treacherously, like their fathers, They turned aside, like deceitful bowmen;

58 Bamfuemisa mu bibuangu biawu bizangama balemisa kiphala kiandi mu bitumba biawu

And provoked him to anger with their high places, And, with their images, used to move him to jealousy.

59 Nzambi bu kawa, buna wufuema ngolo wutumbu loza mvimba Iseli.

God heard and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;

60 Wuyekula, nzo ngoto mbuabununu yi Silo; nzo yoyo mu kakivuandisa;

So he gave up the habitation of Shiloh, The tent he had set up among Men;

61 Wufidisa kesi yi lulendo luandi mu buvika, ayi kiezila kiandi mu mioko mi mbeni.

Yea he gave up, into captivity, his strength, And his beauty into the hand of an adversary;

62 Wuyekula batu bandi mu sabala, wufuemina ngolo kiuka kiandi.

And delivered up, to the sword, his people, And, with his own inheritance, was he wroth;

63 Mbazu yi zinisa bamatoko mawu, ayi bandumba ziawu ziozi zisia zaba babakala ko zisia baka ko minkunga mi makuela ko.

His young men, were devoured by fire, And, his virgins, were not praised in song;

64 Zinganga ziawu zinzambi zimana fuila mu sabala ayi mafuola mawu masia baka bu didila ko.

His priests, by the sword, did fall, And, his widows, were not able to bewail.

65 Buna Yave wukotuka banga mutu wuba wuleka, banga mutu kotukidi mu diambu di vinu kakololo.

Then awoke, as one that had slept, Adonay, As a warrior exulting with wine!

66 Wuvutula bambeni bandi ku manima; wuzifuisa zitsoni ka zisukanga ko.

So he smote his adversaries in the rear, Reproach age-abiding, laid he upon them.

67 Buna wuloza zinzo zi ngoto zi Zozefi, kasia sobula ko dikanda di Efalayimi;

Howbeit he rejected the tent of Joseph, And, the tribe of Ephraim, did not choose:

68 Vayi wusobula dikanda di Yuda, mongo wu Sioni, wowo kazola.

But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved;

69 Wutunga buangu kiandi kinlongo banga bibuangu bizangama, banga ntoto wowo kakubika mu zithangu zioso zi kazimani.

And built, like the heights, his sanctuary, Like the earth, he founded it to times age-abiding.

70 Wusobula Davidi kisadi kiandi ayi wumbonga mu ziphangu zi mamemi,

And made choice of David his servant, And took him from among the folds of the sheep:

71 Wumbongila vana vaba mamemi momo kaba sunga mu diambu di kaba nsungi wu batu bandi Yakobi, wu Iseli kiuka kiandi.

From after the sucking ewes, he brought him in, —To be shepherd to Jacob his people, And to Israel, his inheritance.

72 Buna Davidi wuba nsungi awu mu ntima wufuana ayi wuba diatisila mu koko ku diela.

So he did shepherd them, according to the singleness of his heart, And, with the discernment of his hands, used he to guide them.