Mosakoli 10
1 Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
3 Ata tango zoba atambolaka na nzela, bozangi mayele na ye etalisaka na bato mosusu ete azali zoba.
Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 Soki mokonzi atombokeli yo, kolongwa na esika na yo ya mosala te; pamba te motema ya kokita epekisaka bambeba minene.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
6 bazoba batombolami na bisika ya lokumu makasi, kasi bazwi batikali na bisika ya se.
Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Namonaki bawumbu kotambola likolo ya bampunda, mpe bakonzi kotambola na makolo lokola bawumbu.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Moto oyo atimoli libulu akoki kokweya kati na yango; mpe moto oyo abuki mir ya lopango, nyoka ekoki koswa ye.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Soki nyoka eswi moto liboso ete asakanisa yango, litomba ezali lisusu te epai ya moto oyo asakanisaka banyoka.
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 Maloba ya moto ya bwanya epesaka esengo, kasi maloba ya zoba elukelaka ye makambo.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
14 Zoba alobaka mingi. Moto moko te ayebi makambo oyo ekoya; nani akoki koyebisa ye makambo oyo ekosalema sima na ye?
A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Mawa na mokili oyo mokonzi na yango azali mwana moke, mpe oyo bakambi na yango balangwaka masanga na tongo-tongo!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
17 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.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
18 Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 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.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
