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,

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 bato pamba mpe bato minene, bazwi mpe babola:

both low and high, rich and poor together.

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

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding.

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

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.

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

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

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

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

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

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

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

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

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 sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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 inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

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

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.

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 is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (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)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)

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

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will 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.

Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

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

for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

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

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

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

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.