Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
Kokende sango ya malamu eleki malasi ya solo kitoko na motuya, mpe mokolo ya kufa eleki mokolo ya mbotama na malamu.
2 It's better to go to a funeral than to a party. In the end, everyone dies, and those who are still alive should think about it.
Kokende na ndako ya matanga ezali malamu koleka kokende na ndako oyo ezali na feti, pamba te kufa ezali suka ya moto nyonso; yango wana, bato nyonso oyo bazali na bomoi basengeli kokanisaka na tina na yango.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
Mawa eleki koseka na malamu, pamba te elongi ya mawa eyeisaka motema esengo.
4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.
Motema ya moto ya bwanya ezalaka kati na ndako ya matanga, kasi motema ya zoba ezalaka kati na ndako ya bisengo.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
Koyoka pamela ya moto ya bwanya ezali malamu koleka koyoka banzembo ya zoba.
6 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.
Koseka ya bazoba ezalaka lokola makelele ya basende oyo ezali kozika na se ya nzungu; wana mpe ezali pamba.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
Minyoko ekomisaka moto ya bwanya zoba, mpe bakado epengwisaka motema.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
Suka ya likambo ezali malamu koleka ebandeli ya likambo; kokanga motema ezali malamu koleka lolendo.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Kotombokaka noki te, pamba te kanda evandaka kati na bazoba.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
Kolobaka te: « Mpo na nini mikolo eleki ezali malamu koleka mikolo ya lelo? » Pamba te bwanya etindaka te bato kotuna mituna ya boye.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
Bwanya ezali lokola libula, ezalaka malamu mpe epesaka litomba na bato oyo bamonaka moyi.
12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!
Bwanya ezali lokola nguba, ndenge mpe mosolo ezalaka nguba; kasi litomba ya boyebi ezali ete ebatelaka bomoi ya bato oyo bazali na yango.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
Tala malamu misala ya Nzambe: Nani akoki kosembola eloko oyo Ye asili kogumba?
14 On a good day, be happy. When a bad day comes, stop and think. God made each day, so you don't know what will happen to you next.
Na mokolo ya malamu, sepela; na mokolo ya mabe, kanisa; pamba te Nzambe nde asala nyonso mibale mpo ete moto ayeba te makambo oyo ekoya sima na ye.
15 Throughout my life I've seen so much that is hard to understand. Good people who die young despite doing what is right, and wicked people who live long evil lives.
Na mikolo ya pamba ya bomoi na ngai, namonaki makambo oyo nyonso: Moto ya sembo akufi mpo na bosembo na ye, mpe moto mabe awumeli na bomoi mpo na mabe na ye.
16 Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?
Kolekisa ndelo te ya kozala moto ya sembo to ya kozala moto ya bwanya; mpo na nini komibebisa?
17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
Kolekisa ndelo te ya kozala moto mabe to ya kozala zoba; mpo na nini kokufa liboso ete mikolo ya bomoi na yo ekoka?
18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.
Ezali malamu kokangama na toli ya liboso mpe kosimba toli ya mibale, pamba te moto oyo atosaka Nzambe akosalela toli nyonso mibale.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Bwanya ekomisaka moto oyo azali na yango makasi koleka bakambi zomi kati na engumba.
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
Kati na mokili, ezali na moto moko te ya sembo oyo asalaka kaka malamu, bongo azanga kosala masumu.
21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,
Kotiaka matoyi na bilobaloba ya bato te, noki te okoyoka mosali na yo kotiola yo;
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
pamba te, oyebi malamu, kati na motema na yo, ete yo mpe otiolaka bato mosusu mbala mingi.
23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.
Namekaki kososola makambo wana nyonso na nzela ya bwanya, namilobelaki: « Nakosala nyonso mpo ete nakoma moto ya bwanya, » kasi bwanya ezalaki kaka mosika na ngai.
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
Nyonso oyo ezalisami ezali mosika, mozindo mpe mozindo makasi; nani akoki komona yango?
25 I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.
Boye, na motema na ngai mobimba, namipesaki mpo na kososola, koyeba, koluka bwanya mpe boyebi; mpe mpo na kososola bozoba ya mabe elongo na liboma ya bozoba.
26 I discovered something more horrible than death: foolishness like a woman who tries to entrap you, who wants to use her mind and hands to catch you and tie you up. Those who follow God will not be caught, but sinners will fall into her trap.
Namoni likambo oyo: mwasi oyo motema na ye ezali lokola motambo to monyama, oyo maboko na ye ezali lokola minyololo, azali mabe koleka kufa; mobali oyo asepelisaka Nzambe akotikala kokangama te na motambo na ye, kaka mobali oyo asalaka masumu nde akokangama na motambo na ye.
27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.
Mosakoli alobi: « Tala makambo oyo nasosoli sima na koyekola mwasi moko na moko mpo na kozwa mayele:
28 Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”
Nazali koluka, kasi nanu namoni te. Namoni mobali moko ya sembo kati na mibali nkoto moko, kasi namoni ata mwasi moko te ya sembo kati na basi nyonso!
29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.
Tala makambo oyo nasosoli: Nzambe asala bato mpo ete bazala malamu, kasi bato bamilukelaka mindondo bango moko. »
