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.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 Tango lolendo eyaka, soni mpe eyaka, kasi bwanya ezali elongo na bato oyo bamikitisaka.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 Boyengebene ya bato ya sembo etambolisaka bango, kasi mayele mabe ya bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te ebebisaka bango.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Bomengo ekolongisa ata moke te na mokolo ya kanda ya Nzambe, kasi bosembo ekangolaka na kufa.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 Bosembo ya moto oyo atambolaka alima ekomisaka nzela na ye sembo, kasi moto mabe akokweya mpo na mabe na ye moko.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
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 upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
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 a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 Moto ya sembo akokangolama na pasi, mpe moto mabe akomona pasi na esika ya moto ya sembo.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 Moto ya mbindo abebisaka moninga na ye na maloba ya monoko na ye, kasi boyebi ekokangola bato ya sembo.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 Tango bato ya sembo bapambolamaka, engumba esepelaka; mpe tango moto mabe akufaka, bato bagangaka na esengo.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 Engumba etongamaka na nzela ya mapamboli ya bato ya sembo, kasi ebebisamaka na nzela ya monoko ya bato mabe.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 Moto oyo atiolaka moninga na ye azangi mayele, kasi moto ya mayele avandaka kimia.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 Moto oyo aswanaka abimisaka basekele, kasi moto oyo azali na molimo ya sembo abombaka basekele.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Mpo na kozanga koyeba kokamba, ekolo ekokweya; kasi lobiko ezali kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 Moto oyo abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya akomona solo pasi, kasi moto oyo aboyaka kozwa bikateli akozala na kimia.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 Mwasi ya malamu azwaka lokumu, mpe bato ya makasi bazwaka bomengo.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 Moto oyo asalelaka bato bolamu amisalelaka nde bolamu, kasi moto na kanza amimonisaka pasi.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 Moto mabe asalaka mosala na lokuta, kasi moto oyo alonaka na bosembo akozwa lifuti ya malonga.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 Lokola bosembo ememaka na bomoi, moto oyo alandaka nzela ya mabe alandaka nde nzela ya kufa.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
20 Bato ya kilikili bazalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela basepelisaka Ye.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 Moto mabe akosambisama solo, kasi bakitani ya bayengebene bakokangolama.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 Mwasi ya kitoko, kasi azangi mayele, azali lokola lopete ya wolo na zolo ya ngulu.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 Baposa ya moto ya sembo esukaka kaka malamu, nzokande elikya ya moto mabe ezelaka kaka kanda ya Nzambe.
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 Moto oyo akabaka na motema malamu azwaka mingi koleka, mpe moto oyo abombaka kaka akomaka mobola.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 Moto oyo akabaka akokoma na bomengo; mpe moto oyo apesaka bato mosusu mayi, ye mpe bakopesa ye mayi.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 Moto oyo abombaka ble, bato bakolakela ye mabe; kasi lipamboli ezali epai na moto oyo akoteka yango.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 Moto oyo alukaka kosala bolamu akozwa ngolu, kasi pasi ekomelaka moto oyo alukaka kosala mabe.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 Moto oyo atiaka elikya na bomengo na ye akokweya, kasi bayengebene bakozala kitoko lokola makasa ya sika.
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
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.
He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
30 Mbuma ya moto ya sembo ezali nzete ya bomoi, mpe moto ya bwanya abengaka bato pene na ye.
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
31 Soki moto ya sembo azwaka litomba na ye awa na mokili, ekozala boni mpo na moto mabe mpe mosumuki?
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
