Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!
Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
2 The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, '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 go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
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 I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
6 He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
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 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
Moto oyo atimoli libulu akoki kokweya kati na yango; mpe moto oyo abuki mir ya lopango, nyoka ekoki koswa ye.
9 Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
10 If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
11 If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
Soki nyoka eswi moto liboso ete asakanisa yango, litomba ezali lisusu te epai ya moto oyo asakanisaka banyoka.
12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool 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, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
14 And the fool multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
Zoba alobaka mingi. Moto moko te ayebi makambo oyo ekoya; nani akoki koyebisa ye makambo oyo ekosalema sima na ye?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do 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 Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, 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 slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
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.
