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.
Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
2 Tango lolendo eyaka, soni mpe eyaka, kasi bwanya ezali elongo na bato oyo bamikitisaka.
When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
3 Boyengebene ya bato ya sembo etambolisaka bango, kasi mayele mabe ya bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te ebebisaka bango.
The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
4 Bomengo ekolongisa ata moke te na mokolo ya kanda ya Nzambe, kasi bosembo ekangolaka na kufa.
Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness 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.
The righteousness of the perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked 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 deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
7 Soki moto mabe akufi, elikya na ye mpe ekufi; boye, elikya nyonso oyo etiami na bomengo na ye mpe ekufi.
When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
8 Moto ya sembo akokangolama na pasi, mpe moto mabe akomona pasi na esika ya moto ya sembo.
The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 Moto ya mbindo abebisaka moninga na ye na maloba ya monoko na ye, kasi boyebi ekokangola bato ya sembo.
With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
10 Tango bato ya sembo bapambolamaka, engumba esepelaka; mpe tango moto mabe akufaka, bato bagangaka na esengo.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 Engumba etongamaka na nzela ya mapamboli ya bato ya sembo, kasi ebebisamaka na nzela ya monoko ya bato mabe.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
12 Moto oyo atiolaka moninga na ye azangi mayele, kasi moto ya mayele avandaka kimia.
He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
13 Moto oyo aswanaka abimisaka basekele, kasi moto oyo azali na molimo ya sembo abombaka basekele.
He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Mpo na kozanga koyeba kokamba, ekolo ekokweya; kasi lobiko ezali kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
15 Moto oyo abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya akomona solo pasi, kasi moto oyo aboyaka kozwa bikateli akozala na kimia.
With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
16 Mwasi ya malamu azwaka lokumu, mpe bato ya makasi bazwaka bomengo.
A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
17 Moto oyo asalelaka bato bolamu amisalelaka nde bolamu, kasi moto na kanza amimonisaka pasi.
The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
18 Moto mabe asalaka mosala na lokuta, kasi moto oyo alonaka na bosembo akozwa lifuti ya malonga.
The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
19 Lokola bosembo ememaka na bomoi, moto oyo alandaka nzela ya mabe alandaka nde nzela ya kufa.
He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
20 Bato ya kilikili bazalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela basepelisaka Ye.
An abomination of the Lord are those of a perverse heart; but his favor is for those who are unblemished in their way.
21 Moto mabe akosambisama solo, kasi bakitani ya bayengebene bakokangolama.
The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
22 Mwasi ya kitoko, kasi azangi mayele, azali lokola lopete ya wolo na zolo ya ngulu.
As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
23 Baposa ya moto ya sembo esukaka kaka malamu, nzokande elikya ya moto mabe ezelaka kaka kanda ya Nzambe.
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
24 Moto oyo akabaka na motema malamu azwaka mingi koleka, mpe moto oyo abombaka kaka akomaka mobola.
There is a man that scattereth gifts, and yet his wealth is increased: and there is one that withholdeth more than is proper, and still cometh only to want.
25 Moto oyo akabaka akokoma na bomengo; mpe moto oyo apesaka bato mosusu mayi, ye mpe bakopesa ye mayi.
A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
26 Moto oyo abombaka ble, bato bakolakela ye mabe; kasi lipamboli ezali epai na moto oyo akoteka yango.
Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
27 Moto oyo alukaka kosala bolamu akozwa ngolu, kasi pasi ekomelaka moto oyo alukaka kosala mabe.
He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
28 Moto oyo atiaka elikya na bomengo na ye akokweya, kasi bayengebene bakozala kitoko lokola makasa ya sika.
He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
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 troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
30 Mbuma ya moto ya sembo ezali nzete ya bomoi, mpe moto ya bwanya abengaka bato pene na ye.
The fruit of the righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
31 Soki moto ya sembo azwaka litomba na ye awa na mokili, ekozala boni mpo na moto mabe mpe mosumuki?
Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
