Masese 14
1 Mwasi ya bwanya atongaka ndako na ye, kasi mwasi oyo azangi mayele abukaka yango na maboko na ye moko.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Moto oyo atambolaka alima atosaka Yawe, kasi moto oyo nzela na ye etengama-tengama atiolaka Ye.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonored.
3 Kati na monoko ya moto oyo azangi mayele, ezalaka na nzete ya lolendo, kasi bibebu ya moto ya bwanya ebatelaka ye.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Esika oyo ezalaka na ngombe te, elielo mpe ezalaka na eloko te, pamba te ezali makasi ya bangombe nde epesaka bomengo.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Motatoli ya sembo akosaka te, kasi motatoli ya mabe alobaka lokuta.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Motioli alukaka bwanya mpe azwaka yango te, kasi boyebi eyaka na pete epai na moto ya mayele.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Zala mosika ya zoba, pamba te okotikala kozwa boyebi te na bibebu na ye.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Bwanya ya moto ya mayele esosolisaka ye nzela na ye, kasi bozoba ya bato oyo bazangi mayele: lokuta.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Bazoba balingaka te kosenga bolimbisi, kasi ngolu na Nzambe ezalaka kati na bato ya sembo.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Motema eyebaka pasi na yango moko, moko te akoki kokabola na yango esengo.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Ndako ya moto mabe ekobukana, kasi ndako ya kapo ya bayengebene ekofuluka.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Nzela mosusu emonanaka sembo na miso ya bato, nzokande, na suka, ememaka na kufa.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Ezala kati na koseka, motema ekoki kozala na mawa, mpe esengo ekoki kosuka na mawa.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te bakozwa lifuti kolanda misala na bango, kasi moto ya sembo mpe akozwa lifuti kolanda misala na ye.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Moto oyo azangi mayele andimaka makambo nyonso oyo balobaka, kasi moto ya mayele atambolaka na bokebi.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Moto ya bwanya abangaka mabe mpe akimaka yango, kasi zoba atombokaka, na elikya nyonso.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Moto oyo asilikaka noki asalaka makambo ya bozoba, mpe bayinaka moto ya mayele mabe.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Bato oyo bazangi mayele bazwaka bozoba lokola libula, kasi bato ya mayele bazwaka boyebi lokola motole.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Bato mabe bakofukama liboso ya bato ya malamu, bato ya mitema mabe bakofukama na ekuke ya bato ya sembo.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Mobola ayinamaka ata epai na moninga na ye moko, kasi mozwi azalaka na baninga ebele.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Moto oyo atiolaka moninga na ye asalaka lisumu, kasi esengo na moto oyo asalaka bato bakelela bolamu.
He that dishonors the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Boni, bato oyo babongisaka kosala mabe bazali na libunga te? Kasi boboto mpe solo ezali epai ya bato oyo babongisaka kosala bolamu.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Mosala nyonso epesaka litomba, kasi maloba ya pamba ememaka na bobola.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Bozwi ya bato ya bwanya ezalaka lokola motole na bango, kasi bozoba ya bato oyo bazangi mayele ezalaka lokola liboma.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Motatoli oyo alobaka solo abikisaka bato ebele, kasi motatoli ya mabe alobaka lokuta.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Moto oyo atosaka Yawe akomaka na kondima makasi, mpe bana na ye bakozwa ekimelo.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Kotosa Yawe ezali etima ya bomoi, ekangolaka na mitambo ya kufa.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Kozala na bato ebele epesaka mokonzi lokumu, kasi mokonzi akweyaka soki azali na bato te.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Moto oyo asilikaka noki te azalaka mayele, kasi moto oyo akangaka motema te abimisaka bozoba na ye.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Motema oyo ezali na kimia epesaka bomoi na nzoto, kasi bilulela epolisaka mikuwa.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola atiolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango, kasi moto oyo asalelaka moto akelela bolamu apesaka Ye lokumu.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor.
32 Babenganaka moto mabe mpo na mabe na ye, kasi moto ya sembo awumelaka na elikya kino ata na kufa.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Bwanya ewumelaka kati na motema ya moto oyo azali na bososoli; kasi boni, ekoyebana solo kati na bazoba?
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Bosembo etombolaka ekolo, kasi lisumu ememelaka bato soni.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Mokonzi asepelaka na mosali ya bwanya, kasi mosali oyo ayokisaka ye soni apelisaka kanda na ye.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace.
