< Masese 11 >

1 Bimekelo kilo ya lokuta ezali lokola makambo ya nkele na miso ya Yawe, kasi kilo ya sembo ezali elengi na miso na Ye.
Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 Tango lolendo eyaka, soni mpe eyaka, kasi bwanya ezali elongo na bato oyo bamikitisaka.
When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 Boyengebene ya bato ya sembo etambolisaka bango, kasi mayele mabe ya bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te ebebisaka bango.
The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Bomengo ekolongisa ata moke te na mokolo ya kanda ya Nzambe, kasi bosembo ekangolaka na kufa.
Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
5 Bosembo ya moto oyo atambolaka alima ekomisaka nzela na ye sembo, kasi moto mabe akokweya mpo na mabe na ye moko.
The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.
6 Bosembo ya bato oyo batambolaka alima ekangolaka bango, kasi bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te bakweyaka na motambo ya baposa na bango.
The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 Soki moto mabe akufi, elikya na ye mpe ekufi; boye, elikya nyonso oyo etiami na bomengo na ye mpe ekufi.
At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.
8 Moto ya sembo akokangolama na pasi, mpe moto mabe akomona pasi na esika ya moto ya sembo.
The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 Moto ya mbindo abebisaka moninga na ye na maloba ya monoko na ye, kasi boyebi ekokangola bato ya sembo.
With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 Tango bato ya sembo bapambolamaka, engumba esepelaka; mpe tango moto mabe akufaka, bato bagangaka na esengo.
When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
11 Engumba etongamaka na nzela ya mapamboli ya bato ya sembo, kasi ebebisamaka na nzela ya monoko ya bato mabe.
By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 Moto oyo atiolaka moninga na ye azangi mayele, kasi moto ya mayele avandaka kimia.
He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 Moto oyo aswanaka abimisaka basekele, kasi moto oyo azali na molimo ya sembo abombaka basekele.
He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 Mpo na kozanga koyeba kokamba, ekolo ekokweya; kasi lobiko ezali kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
15 Moto oyo abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya akomona solo pasi, kasi moto oyo aboyaka kozwa bikateli akozala na kimia.
He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 Mwasi ya malamu azwaka lokumu, mpe bato ya makasi bazwaka bomengo.
A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.
17 Moto oyo asalelaka bato bolamu amisalelaka nde bolamu, kasi moto na kanza amimonisaka pasi.
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 Moto mabe asalaka mosala na lokuta, kasi moto oyo alonaka na bosembo akozwa lifuti ya malonga.
The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 Lokola bosembo ememaka na bomoi, moto oyo alandaka nzela ya mabe alandaka nde nzela ya kufa.
So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
20 Bato ya kilikili bazalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela basepelisaka Ye.
The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
21 Moto mabe akosambisama solo, kasi bakitani ya bayengebene bakokangolama.
Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 Mwasi ya kitoko, kasi azangi mayele, azali lokola lopete ya wolo na zolo ya ngulu.
Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 Baposa ya moto ya sembo esukaka kaka malamu, nzokande elikya ya moto mabe ezelaka kaka kanda ya Nzambe.
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
24 Moto oyo akabaka na motema malamu azwaka mingi koleka, mpe moto oyo abombaka kaka akomaka mobola.
A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.
25 Moto oyo akabaka akokoma na bomengo; mpe moto oyo apesaka bato mosusu mayi, ye mpe bakopesa ye mayi.
He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 Moto oyo abombaka ble, bato bakolakela ye mabe; kasi lipamboli ezali epai na moto oyo akoteka yango.
He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.
27 Moto oyo alukaka kosala bolamu akozwa ngolu, kasi pasi ekomelaka moto oyo alukaka kosala mabe.
He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
28 Moto oyo atiaka elikya na bomengo na ye akokweya, kasi bayengebene bakozala kitoko lokola makasa ya sika.
He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 Moto oyo akotisaka mobulu kati na ndako na ye akozwa mopepe lokola libula, mpe moto oyo azangi mayele akokoma mowumbu ya moto ya bwanya.
The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 Mbuma ya moto ya sembo ezali nzete ya bomoi, mpe moto ya bwanya abengaka bato pene na ye.
The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 Soki moto ya sembo azwaka litomba na ye awa na mokili, ekozala boni mpo na moto mabe mpe mosumuki?
If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!

< Masese 11 >