Masese 13
1 Mwana mayele ayokaka mateya ya tata na ye, kasi mwana oyo atiolaka ayokaka pamela te.
A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 Mbuma ya monoko eleisaka moto bilei ya malamu, kasi molimo ya moto oyo atambolaka na bosembo te ememaka na mobulu.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.
3 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye abatelaka molimo na ye, kasi moto oyo afungolaka monoko na ye makasi akosuka na libebi.
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.
4 Moto ya goyigoyi ayokaka baposa, kasi akoki kokokisa yango te; nzokande baposa ya moto ya nzunzu ekokisamaka.
A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 Moto ya sembo ayinaka maloba ya lokuta, kasi moto mabe amiyinisaka mpe apanzaka soni.
A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame.
6 Bosembo ebatelaka moto oyo atambolaka alima na nzela na ye, kasi mabe ebebisaka bongo ya moto ya masumu.
Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 Ezali na moto moko oyo asalaka makambo lokola mozwi, nzokande azali na ye ata na eloko moko te; mpe ezali na moto mosusu oyo asalaka makambo lokola mobola, nzokande azali na bozwi mingi.
There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth.
8 Bomengo ya mozwi ebatelaka bomoi na ye, kasi bato mabe batungisaka mobola te.
The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.
9 Pole ya bato ya sembo engengaka makasi, kasi mwinda ya bato mabe ekufaka.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Lolendo ememaka kaka na koswana, kasi bato oyo bayokaka toli bazwaka bwanya.
By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Bomengo oyo ezwami na lombangu mpe na nzela ya mabe esilaka noki, kasi bomengo oyo babakisaka na moke-moke ekomaka ebele.
Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].
12 Elikya oyo ekokisami te epesaka bokono na motema, kasi posa oyo ekokisami ezali nzete ya bomoi.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life.
13 Moto oyo atiolaka liloba amiyokisaka pasi, kasi moto oyo atosaka malako akozwa lifuti.
Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Mateya ya moto ya bwanya ezali etima ya bomoi, ekangolaka na mitambo ya kufa.
The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
15 Boyebi ememelaka bato ngolu, kasi nzela ya bato oyo babukaka mibeko ezalaka pasi.
Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Moto ya mayele asalaka makambo kolanda boyebi, kasi zoba, atandaka bozoba na ye.
Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.
17 Motindami ya mabe akweyaka kati na pasi, kasi motindami ya sembo amemaka lobiko.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Bobola mpe soni ekomelaka bato oyo baboyaka koyekola, kasi moto oyo andimaka pamela akozwa lokumu.
Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 Posa oyo ekokisami esalaka esengo na motema, kasi kokabwana na mabe ezali likambo ya nkele na miso ya zoba.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.
20 Moto oyo asanganaka na bato ya bwanya akomaka moto ya bwanya, kasi moto oyo atambolaka nzela moko na bazoba akomona pasi.
He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.
21 Mabe elandaka bato ya masumu, kasi bolamu ezali lifuti ya bato ya sembo.
Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22 Moto oyo asalaka bolamu atikelaka bakitani na ye libula, kasi bomengo ya moto ya masumu ebombamaka mpo na moyengebene.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man].
23 Bilanga ya mobola ekoki kobotela ye bilei ebele, kasi ezali na bato oyo bazali kobeba mpo na kozanga bosembo.
Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment.
24 Moto oyo aboyaka kobeta mwana na ye fimbu alingaka ye te, kasi moto oyo alingaka mwana na ye abetaka ye.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Moyengebene aliaka mpe atondaka, kasi libumu ya moto mabe ezalaka na nzala.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.
