Yobo 28
1 Ezali na esika oyo batimolaka palata, mpe na esika oyo bapetolaka wolo.
For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
2 Ebende ewutaka na mabele, mpe libanga oyo balekisaka na moto epesaka motako.
For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
3 Moto asilisaka molili, alukaka kino na se, na bisika ya se penza, libanga kati na molili oyo eleki makasi,
He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone [is] darkness, and the shadow of death.
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.
There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from [among] men.
5 Mabele epai wapi bilei ewutaka ebongwani na se na yango lokola nde moto ezikisi yango.
[As for] the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
6 Mabanga ya safiri ewutaka na mabanga makasi ya mabele, mpe putulu ya wolo ezalaka kati na mabele.
Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and [her] dust [supplies] man with gold.
7 Ndeke moko te oyo eliaka misuni eyebi nzela na yango, miso ya mpongo moko te emoni yango,
[There is] a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
8 nyama ya zamba etia nanu makolo na yango kuna te, mpe nkosi etambola nanu kuna te.
neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
9 Moto abetaka loboko na ye na likolo ya libanga ya makasi mpe apikolaka ngomba longwa na misisa,
He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp [rock], and turned up mountains by the roots:
10 atimolaka nzela kati na mabanga, mpe miso na ye emonaka bomengo na yango nyonso,
and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
11 akawusaka mayi ya bibale mpe abimisaka na pole biloko oyo ebombama.
And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
12 Kasi bakoki komona bwanya wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
13 Moto ayebaka motuya na yango te, pamba te bakoki komona yango te kati na mokili ya bato ya bomoi.
A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.
14 Libulu ya mozindo elobi: « Ezali kati na ngai te; » mpe ebale monene elobi: « Ezali epai na ngai te. »
The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
15 Bakoki kosomba yango te na motuya ya libanga ya wolo to na bakilo ya palata;
One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 bakoki te kosomba yango na wolo ya Ofiri to na mabanga ya talo ya Onikisi to mabanga ya talo ya Safiri;
Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
17 wolo to diama ekoki te kokokana na yango, bakoki kozwa yango te na motuya ya sani ya wolo ya kitoko.
Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
18 Mayaka ya Karayi mpe ya Jasipe ezali na motuya te liboso na yango. Motuya ya bwanya eleki pawuni ya talo.
Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
19 Topaze ya Kushi ekoki kokokana na yango te, mpe bakoki te kosomba yango ata na wolo ya peto.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
20 Boye, bwanya ewutaka wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
21 Ebombami mosika na miso ya bato nyonso ya bomoi, ebombami mpe mosika na miso ya bandeke ya likolo.
It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
22 Libebi mpe kufa elobi: « Kaka sango na yango nde ekomaki na matoyi na biso. »
Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
23 Nzambe kaka nde ayebi nzela na yango, Ye nde kaka ayebi esika bwanya evandaka.
God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
24 Pamba te miso na Ye emonaka kino na suka ya mokili, mpe amonaka nyonso oyo ezali na se ya Lola.
For he surveys the whole [earth] under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
25 Tango apesaki makasi na mopepe mpe atiaki mondelo na mayi,
all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
26 tango atiaki mobeko mpo na mvula mpe afungolaki nzela mpo na kake mpe mikalikali,
When he made [them], thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
27 amonaki bwanya mpe akumisaki yango, andimaki yango mpe amekaki yango.
Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it [and] traced it out.
28 Bongo alobaki na moto: « Kotosa Nkolo, yango nde bwanya! Koboya mabe, yango nde mayele! »
And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
