Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
Soki ovandi mpo na kolia mesa moko elongo na mokonzi, tala malamu moto oyo azali liboso na yo.
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
Tia mbeli na mongongo na yo soki ozalaka lokoso.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Kolula te bilei na ye ya kitoko, pamba te, tango mosusu, ezali na yango bololo.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Koboma nzoto te mpo na koluka kozwa bomengo, kotia mayele na yo te kati na yango.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Tango okobwaka miso na ngambo ya bomengo, ekobunga, pamba te ezalaka na mapapu mpe epumbwaka na likolo makasi lokola mpongo.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Kolia te bilei ya moto oyo azali kotala yo na miso mabe mpe kolula te bilei na ye ya kitoko,
7 for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
pamba te azalaka ndenge makanisi ya motema na ye ezali. Alobaka: « Lia mpe mela, » kasi motema na ye ezali elongo na yo te.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
Okosanza eteni oyo oliaki, mpe maloba na yo ya kitoko ekokende pamba.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Kolobaka na zoba te, pamba te akotiola bwanya ya maloba na yo.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Kozongisa te na sima mondelo ya kala mpe kokota te na bilanga ya bana bitike,
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
pamba te Molobeli na bango azalaka makasi, akozwa makambo na bango na maboko mpo na kotelemela yo.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Tika ete motema na yo endimaka kotosa mibeko, mpe matoyi na yo eyokaka maloba ya boyebi!
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Kozangisa te kopesa mwana etumbu; soki obeti ye fimbu, akokufa te.
Na kobeta ye fimbu, okokangola molimo na ye na lifelo. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
Mwana na ngai, soki motema na yo ezali na bwanya, motema na ngai ekozala na esengo.
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
Solo, bomoto na ngai nyonso ekotonda na esengo, soki bibebu na yo elobi makambo ya sembo.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Tika ete motema na yo elulaka te bato ya masumu, kasi zalaka tango nyonso na posa makasi ya kotosa Yawe;
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
pamba te suka na yo ekozala solo malamu mpe elikya na yo ekozala ya pamba te.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Mwana na ngai, yoka mpe zala na bwanya, batela motema na yo kati na nzela ya sembo.
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Kozala esika moko te na balangwi masanga to na bato ya lokoso,
21 For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
pamba te balangwi masanga mpe bato na lokoso bakomaka babola, mpe bogoyigoyi ekolatisa bango bilamba epasuka.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Yokela tata oyo aboti yo, mpe kotiola mama na yo te ata soki anuni.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Luka bosolo, kasi koteka yango te; sala se bongo na bwanya, na mateya mpe na mayele.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
Tata ya moto ya sembo akozala na esengo mingi, mpe moto oyo abota mwana ya bwanya akosepela kati na ye.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Tika ete tata na yo mpe mama na yo basepela! Tika ete mama oyo abota yo azala na esengo!
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
Mwana na ngai ya mobali, pesa ngai motema na yo, mpe tika ete miso na yo esepela na nzela na ngai!
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
Pamba te mwasi ya ndumba azali lokola libulu ya monene, mpe mwasi ya mopaya azali lokola libulu ya mozindo.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Mwasi ya ndumba atelemaka na ekenge lokola moyibi mpe akomisaka mibali bazoba koleka.
29 Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
Mpo na nani: « Ah ngai, mawa! » Mpo na nani: « Eh! » Mpo na nani koswanaswana? Mpo na nani kolelalela? Mpo na nani kowelana ezanga tina? Mpo na nani kotelisa miso?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Mpo na bato oyo bawumelaka liboso ya masanga ya vino, mpo na bato oyo bamelaka masanga ya makasi.
31 Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
Kotalaka te masanga ya vino tango ezali motane, tango ezali kongala kati na kopo mpe kokita na pete na mongongo.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
Na suka na yango, ekoswa yo lokola nyoka mpe ekotia yo minu lokola etupa.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Miso na yo ekomona biloko na ndenge ya kokamwa, mpe motema na yo ekobimisa makambo ya bozoba.
34 You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
Boye, okokoma lokola moto oyo alali kati na ebale monene, mpe lokola moto oyo alali na songe ya nzete ya molayi.
35 “People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
Okoloba: « Babeti ngai, kasi nazali koyoka pasi te; babeti ngai fimbu, kasi nazali koyoka eloko te! Tango nini nakolamuka? Nakozongela lisusu komela vino. »
