Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.
Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
3 Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
Ata tango zoba atambolaka na nzela, bozangi mayele na ye etalisaka na bato mosusu ete azali zoba.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.
Soki mokonzi atombokeli yo, kolongwa na esika na yo ya mosala te; pamba te motema ya kokita epekisaka bambeba minene.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler:
Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
bazoba batombolami na bisika ya lokumu makasi, kasi bazwi batikali na bisika ya se.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
Namonaki bawumbu kotambola likolo ya bampunda, mpe bakonzi kotambola na makolo lokola bawumbu.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Moto oyo atimoli libulu akoki kokweya kati na yango; mpe moto oyo abuki mir ya lopango, nyoka ekoki koswa ye.
9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby.
Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Soki nyoka eswi moto liboso ete asakanisa yango, litomba ezali lisusu te epai ya moto oyo asakanisaka banyoka.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Maloba ya moto ya bwanya epesaka esengo, kasi maloba ya zoba elukelaka ye makambo.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Zoba alobaka mingi. Moto moko te ayebi makambo oyo ekoya; nani akoki koyebisa ye makambo oyo ekosalema sima na ye?
15 The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.
Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
Mawa na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango azali mwana moke, mpe oyo bakambi na yango balangwaka masanga na tongo-tongo!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
Esengo na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango abotama na libota ya bato minene, mpe oyo bakambi na yango baliaka na tango oyo esengeli mpo na kozwa makasi, kasi mpo na kolangwa masanga te.
18 By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.
Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things.
Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
20 Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
Kolakela mokonzi mabe te, ezala kati na motema na yo; kolakela mozwi mabe te, ezala na mbeto na yo ya kolala, pamba te ndeke ya likolo ekoki komema maloba na yo mpe kopanza sango ya maloba na yo.
