< Proverbs 22 >
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Kokende sango ya malamu ezali malamu koleka kozala na bomengo mingi; lokumu ezali malamu koleka palata mpe wolo.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
Mozwi mpe mobola bazali na likambo moko ya lisanga: ezali Yawe nde azali Mokeli na bango mibale.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele akoleka wana mpe akokutana na pasi.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honor, and life.
Komikitisa mpe kotosa Yawe ememaka bozwi, lokumu mpe bomoi.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Nzela ya bato mabe ezalaka na banzube mpe mitambo, kasi moto oyo abatelaka molimo na ye azalaka mosika na yango.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Lakisa mwana nzela oyo asengeli kotambola wuta na bomwana na ye; ezala tango akokoma mokolo, akobunga yango te.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
Mozwi azalaka mokonzi ya mobola, mpe modefi azalaka mowumbu ya modefisi.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Moto oyo alonaka masumu abukaka pasi, mpe makasi ya kanda na ye nyonso ekosuka.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Moto oyo akabaka na esengo akopambolama, pamba te akabolaka bilei na ye na mobola.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
Bengana motioli, bongo kowelana, koswana mpe kofingana ekosila.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
Moto oyo alingaka kozala peto na motema, oyo ngolu ezalaka na bibebu na ye, mokonzi azalaka molingami na ye.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Miso na Yawe ebatelaka boyebi, kasi akweyisaka maloba ya moto oyo azangi mayele.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ezali kuna na libanda, ekoboma ngai na kati-kati ya balabala. »
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
Monoko ya mwasi ya ndumba ezalaka lokola libulu ya mozindo; moto oyo Yawe asilikeli akweyaka kuna.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Motema ya mwana moke ezalaka na bozoba, bongo fimbu ya pamela elongolaka yango kati na ye.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola mpo ete akoma na bomengo mingi mpe oyo apesaka mozwi bakado bakokweya na bobola.
17 Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
Pesa matoyi mpe yoka toli ya bato ya bwanya, mpe tika ete motema na yo endima mateya na ngai.
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
Pamba te ekozala esengo soki obombi yango na motema na yo, mpe soki yango nyonso ezali pene ya bibebu na yo.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Nateyi yo yango lelo mpo ete elikya na yo ezala kati na Yawe.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Boni, lobi eleki, nakomelaki yo te batoli koleka tuku misato, batoli ya bwanya mpe ya boyebi,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
batoli oyo epesaka mateya ya solo mpe maloba ya solo mpo ete okoka kozongisa biyano ya solo na moto oyo atindi yo?
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Kobotola te na makasi biloko ya mobola, pamba te azali mobola, konyokola te moto ya pasi na esambiselo,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
pamba te Yawe akobundela bango mpe akobebisa bomoi ya bato oyo bakobebisa bomoi na bango.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Kozala molingami te ya moto ya kanda, mpe kosangana te na moto ya motema moto-moto,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
noki te okoyekola nzela na ye mpe okokangama na motambo na ye.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Kozala te na molongo ya bato oyo batombolaka maboko mpo na kondima kofuta baniongo ya bato mosusu,
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
pamba te soki ozali na yo na makoki ya kofuta te, mpo na nini okolinga ete babotola ata mbeto na yo ya kolala?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Kozongisa na sima te mondelo ya kala oyo batata na yo bakataki.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
Osila komona moto oyo ayebi mosala na ye malamu? Akosala kaka liboso ya bakonzi, akosala te liboso ya bato ya molili.