Mosakoli 10
1 Ndenge nzinzi ekufa ekomisaka malasi solo mabe, ndenge wana mpe mwa bozoba ebebisaka bwanya mpe lokumu.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekendaka na nzela ya malamu, kasi motema ya zoba ekendaka na nzela ya mabe.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Ata tango zoba atambolaka na nzela, bozangi mayele na ye etalisaka na bato mosusu ete azali zoba.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
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 you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offenses.
5 Namonaki mabe moko na se ya moyi, lokola libunga epai ya bakonzi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 bazoba batombolami na bisika ya lokumu makasi, kasi bazwi batikali na bisika ya se.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
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 on 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 digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Moto oyo abukaka mabanga akoki kozoka na yango, oyo apasolaka mabaya akoki mpe kozwa likama.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Soki epasola esili minu mpe bapelisi yango te, moto oyo akosalela yango akobimisa makasi mingi; kasi bwanya epesaka elonga.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 Soki nyoka eswi moto liboso ete asakanisa yango, litomba ezali lisusu te epai ya moto oyo asakanisaka banyoka.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 Maloba ya moto ya bwanya epesaka esengo, kasi maloba ya zoba elukelaka ye makambo.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 Abandaka na maloba ya bozoba mpe asukisaka na maloba ya mabe.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 Zoba alobaka mingi. Moto moko te ayebi makambo oyo ekoya; nani akoki koyebisa ye makambo oyo ekosalema sima na ye?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 Mosala ya zoba elembisaka ye, ayebi ata kutu te nzela oyo ememaka na engumba.
The labor of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not 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 you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat 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.
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 Soki moto azali goyigoyi, likolo ya ndako na ye ekobukana; soki maboko na ye elemba, ndako na ye ekotanga mayi.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 Basalaka feti mpo na kosepela, mpe masanga ya vino epesaka esengo na motema, mpe mbongo epesaka biyano na makambo nyonso.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
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.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
