Yobo 28
1 Ezali na esika oyo batimolaka palata, mpe na esika oyo bapetolaka wolo.
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Ebende ewutaka na mabele, mpe libanga oyo balekisaka na moto epesaka motako.
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 Moto asilisaka molili, alukaka kino na se, na bisika ya se penza, libanga kati na molili oyo eleki makasi,
Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.
4 atimolaka libulu mosika ya esika oyo bato bavandaka, na bisika oyo makolo ya bato ekomaka te, mosika penza na bato, adiembelaka mosika ya bato nyonso.
Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.
5 Mabele epai wapi bilei ewutaka ebongwani na se na yango lokola nde moto ezikisi yango.
Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.
6 Mabanga ya safiri ewutaka na mabanga makasi ya mabele, mpe putulu ya wolo ezalaka kati na mabele.
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.
7 Ndeke moko te oyo eliaka misuni eyebi nzela na yango, miso ya mpongo moko te emoni yango,
No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 nyama ya zamba etia nanu makolo na yango kuna te, mpe nkosi etambola nanu kuna te.
Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.
9 Moto abetaka loboko na ye na likolo ya libanga ya makasi mpe apikolaka ngomba longwa na misisa,
The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base.
10 atimolaka nzela kati na mabanga, mpe miso na ye emonaka bomengo na yango nyonso,
He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.
11 akawusaka mayi ya bibale mpe abimisaka na pole biloko oyo ebombama.
He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light.
12 Kasi bakoki komona bwanya wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?
13 Moto ayebaka motuya na yango te, pamba te bakoki komona yango te kati na mokili ya bato ya bomoi.
No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 Libulu ya mozindo elobi: « Ezali kati na ngai te; » mpe ebale monene elobi: « Ezali epai na ngai te. »
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’
15 Bakoki kosomba yango te na motuya ya libanga ya wolo to na bakilo ya palata;
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 bakoki te kosomba yango na wolo ya Ofiri to na mabanga ya talo ya Onikisi to mabanga ya talo ya Safiri;
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 wolo to diama ekoki te kokokana na yango, bakoki kozwa yango te na motuya ya sani ya wolo ya kitoko.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
18 Mayaka ya Karayi mpe ya Jasipe ezali na motuya te liboso na yango. Motuya ya bwanya eleki pawuni ya talo.
Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 Topaze ya Kushi ekoki kokokana na yango te, mpe bakoki te kosomba yango ata na wolo ya peto.
Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 Boye, bwanya ewutaka wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
From where then does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?
21 Ebombami mosika na miso ya bato nyonso ya bomoi, ebombami mpe mosika na miso ya bandeke ya likolo.
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Libebi mpe kufa elobi: « Kaka sango na yango nde ekomaki na matoyi na biso. »
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’
23 Nzambe kaka nde ayebi nzela na yango, Ye nde kaka ayebi esika bwanya evandaka.
But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
24 Pamba te miso na Ye emonaka kino na suka ya mokili, mpe amonaka nyonso oyo ezali na se ya Lola.
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 Tango apesaki makasi na mopepe mpe atiaki mondelo na mayi,
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 tango atiaki mobeko mpo na mvula mpe afungolaki nzela mpo na kake mpe mikalikali,
when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,
27 amonaki bwanya mpe akumisaki yango, andimaki yango mpe amekaki yango.
then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out.
28 Bongo alobaki na moto: « Kotosa Nkolo, yango nde bwanya! Koboya mabe, yango nde mayele! »
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
