Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
Ata tango zoba atambolaka na nzela, bozangi mayele na ye etalisaka na bato mosusu ete azali zoba.
4 If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
Soki mokonzi atombokeli yo, kolongwa na esika na yo ya mosala te; pamba te motema ya kokita epekisaka bambeba minene.
5 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
bazoba batombolami na bisika ya lokumu makasi, kasi bazwi batikali na bisika ya se.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
Namonaki bawumbu kotambola likolo ya bampunda, mpe bakonzi kotambola na makolo lokola bawumbu.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
Moto oyo atimoli libulu akoki kokweya kati na yango; mpe moto oyo abuki mir ya lopango, nyoka ekoki koswa ye.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
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 pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
Maloba ya moto ya bwanya epesaka esengo, kasi maloba ya zoba elukelaka ye makambo.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which 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 toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Mawa na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango azali mwana moke, mpe oyo bakambi na yango balangwaka masanga na tongo-tongo!
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
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 two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
20 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might 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.
