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 copper is smelted out of the ore.
3 Moto asilisaka molili, alukaka kino na se, na bisika ya se penza, libanga kati na molili oyo eleki makasi,
Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick 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.
He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.
5 Mabele epai wapi bilei ewutaka ebongwani na se na yango lokola nde moto ezikisi yango.
As for the earth, out of it comes bread. 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.
Sapphires come from its rocks. It has 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 knows, neither has 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 animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.
9 Moto abetaka loboko na ye na likolo ya libanga ya makasi mpe apikolaka ngomba longwa na misisa,
He puts his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10 atimolaka nzela kati na mabanga, mpe miso na ye emonaka bomengo na yango nyonso,
He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.
11 akawusaka mayi ya bibale mpe abimisaka na pole biloko oyo ebombama.
He binds the streams that they don’t trickle. The thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
12 Kasi bakoki komona bwanya wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
“But where will wisdom be found? 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 doesn’t know its price, and it isn’t 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 says, ‘It isn’t in me.’ The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’
15 Bakoki kosomba yango te na motuya ya libanga ya wolo to na bakilo ya palata;
It can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price.
16 bakoki te kosomba yango na wolo ya Ofiri to na mabanga ya talo ya Onikisi to mabanga ya talo ya Safiri;
It can’t 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 can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for 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 will be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, 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 will not equal it. It won’t be valued with pure gold.
20 Boye, bwanya ewutaka wapi? Mayele evandaka wapi?
Where then does wisdom come from? 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 hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.
22 Libebi mpe kufa elobi: « Kaka sango na yango nde ekomaki na matoyi na biso. »
Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’
23 Nzambe kaka nde ayebi nzela na yango, Ye nde kaka ayebi esika bwanya evandaka.
“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 under the whole sky.
25 Tango apesaki makasi na mopepe mpe atiaki mondelo na mayi,
He establishes the force of the wind. Yes, he measures 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 he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.
28 Bongo alobaki na moto: « Kotosa Nkolo, yango nde bwanya! Koboya mabe, yango nde mayele! »
To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
