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.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Tango lolendo eyaka, soni mpe eyaka, kasi bwanya ezali elongo na bato oyo bamikitisaka.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes 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 shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Bomengo ekolongisa ata moke te na mokolo ya kanda ya Nzambe, kasi bosembo ekangolaka na kufa.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers 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 blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
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 shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
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 dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 Moto ya sembo akokangolama na pasi, mpe moto mabe akomona pasi na esika ya moto ya sembo.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 Moto ya mbindo abebisaka moninga na ye na maloba ya monoko na ye, kasi boyebi ekokangola bato ya sembo.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 Tango bato ya sembo bapambolamaka, engumba esepelaka; mpe tango moto mabe akufaka, bato bagangaka na esengo.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
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, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Moto oyo atiolaka moninga na ye azangi mayele, kasi moto ya mayele avandaka kimia.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 Moto oyo aswanaka abimisaka basekele, kasi moto oyo azali na molimo ya sembo abombaka basekele.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Mpo na kozanga koyeba kokamba, ekolo ekokweya; kasi lobiko ezali kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
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 is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 Mwasi ya malamu azwaka lokumu, mpe bato ya makasi bazwaka bomengo.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
17 Moto oyo asalelaka bato bolamu amisalelaka nde bolamu, kasi moto na kanza amimonisaka pasi.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Moto mabe asalaka mosala na lokuta, kasi moto oyo alonaka na bosembo akozwa lifuti ya malonga.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Lokola bosembo ememaka na bomoi, moto oyo alandaka nzela ya mabe alandaka nde nzela ya kufa.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Bato ya kilikili bazalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela basepelisaka Ye.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Moto mabe akosambisama solo, kasi bakitani ya bayengebene bakokangolama.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Mwasi ya kitoko, kasi azangi mayele, azali lokola lopete ya wolo na zolo ya ngulu.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks 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. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Moto oyo akabaka na motema malamu azwaka mingi koleka, mpe moto oyo abombaka kaka akomaka mobola.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Moto oyo akabaka akokoma na bomengo; mpe moto oyo apesaka bato mosusu mayi, ye mpe bakopesa ye mayi.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 Moto oyo abombaka ble, bato bakolakela ye mabe; kasi lipamboli ezali epai na moto oyo akoteka yango.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 Moto oyo alukaka kosala bolamu akozwa ngolu, kasi pasi ekomelaka moto oyo alukaka kosala mabe.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 Moto oyo atiaka elikya na bomengo na ye akokweya, kasi bayengebene bakozala kitoko lokola makasa ya sika.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as 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.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be 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 a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Soki moto ya sembo azwaka litomba na ye awa na mokili, ekozala boni mpo na moto mabe mpe mosumuki?
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
