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 for gold which they refine.
2 Ebende ewutaka na mabele, mpe libanga oyo balekisaka na moto epesaka motako.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
3 Moto asilisaka molili, alukaka kino na se, na bisika ya se penza, libanga kati na molili oyo eleki makasi,
[Man] setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out to the furthest bound the stones of thick darkness and of 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.
He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot [that passeth by]; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.
5 Mabele epai wapi bilei ewutaka ebongwani na se na yango lokola nde moto ezikisi yango.
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.
6 Mabanga ya safiri ewutaka na mabanga makasi ya mabele, mpe putulu ya wolo ezalaka kati na mabele.
The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
7 Ndeke moko te oyo eliaka misuni eyebi nzela na yango, miso ya mpongo moko te emoni yango,
That path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon’s eye seen it:
8 nyama ya zamba etia nanu makolo na yango kuna te, mpe nkosi etambola nanu kuna te.
The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.
9 Moto abetaka loboko na ye na likolo ya libanga ya makasi mpe apikolaka ngomba longwa na misisa,
He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 atimolaka nzela kati na mabanga, mpe miso na ye emonaka bomengo na yango nyonso,
He cutteth out channels among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 akawusaka mayi ya bibale mpe abimisaka na pole biloko oyo ebombama.
He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 Kasi bakoki komona bwanya wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Moto ayebaka motuya na yango te, pamba te bakoki komona yango te kati na mokili ya bato ya bomoi.
Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither 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 deep saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 Bakoki kosomba yango te na motuya ya libanga ya wolo to na bakilo ya palata;
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
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 with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 wolo to diama ekoki te kokokana na yango, bakoki kozwa yango te na motuya ya sani ya wolo ya kitoko.
Gold and glass cannot equal it: neither shall the exchange thereof be jewels of fine gold.
18 Mayaka ya Karayi mpe ya Jasipe ezali na motuya te liboso na yango. Motuya ya bwanya eleki pawuni ya talo.
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
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 equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Boye, bwanya ewutaka wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Ebombami mosika na miso ya bato nyonso ya bomoi, ebombami mpe mosika na miso ya bandeke ya likolo.
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Libebi mpe kufa elobi: « Kaka sango na yango nde ekomaki na matoyi na biso. »
Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumour thereof with our ears.
23 Nzambe kaka nde ayebi nzela na yango, Ye nde kaka ayebi esika bwanya evandaka.
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 Pamba te miso na Ye emonaka kino na suka ya mokili, mpe amonaka nyonso oyo ezali na se ya Lola.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25 Tango apesaki makasi na mopepe mpe atiaki mondelo na mayi,
To make a weight for the wind; yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.
26 tango atiaki mobeko mpo na mvula mpe afungolaki nzela mpo na kake mpe mikalikali,
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 amonaki bwanya mpe akumisaki yango, andimaki yango mpe amekaki yango.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out.
28 Bongo alobaki na moto: « Kotosa Nkolo, yango nde bwanya! Koboya mabe, yango nde mayele! »
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
