Masese 14
1 Mwasi ya bwanya atongaka ndako na ye, kasi mwasi oyo azangi mayele abukaka yango na maboko na ye moko.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Moto oyo atambolaka alima atosaka Yawe, kasi moto oyo nzela na ye etengama-tengama atiolaka Ye.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Kati na monoko ya moto oyo azangi mayele, ezalaka na nzete ya lolendo, kasi bibebu ya moto ya bwanya ebatelaka ye.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will 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, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Motatoli ya sembo akosaka te, kasi motatoli ya mabe alobaka lokuta.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Motioli alukaka bwanya mpe azwaka yango te, kasi boyebi eyaka na pete epai na moto ya mayele.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Zala mosika ya zoba, pamba te okotikala kozwa boyebi te na bibebu na ye.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Bwanya ya moto ya mayele esosolisaka ye nzela na ye, kasi bozoba ya bato oyo bazangi mayele: lokuta.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Bazoba balingaka te kosenga bolimbisi, kasi ngolu na Nzambe ezalaka kati na bato ya sembo.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Motema eyebaka pasi na yango moko, moko te akoki kokabola na yango esengo.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Ndako ya moto mabe ekobukana, kasi ndako ya kapo ya bayengebene ekofuluka.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Nzela mosusu emonanaka sembo na miso ya bato, nzokande, na suka, ememaka na kufa.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Ezala kati na koseka, motema ekoki kozala na mawa, mpe esengo ekoki kosuka na mawa.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Bato oyo batambolaka na boyengebene te bakozwa lifuti kolanda misala na bango, kasi moto ya sembo mpe akozwa lifuti kolanda misala na ye.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Moto oyo azangi mayele andimaka makambo nyonso oyo balobaka, kasi moto ya mayele atambolaka na bokebi.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Moto ya bwanya abangaka mabe mpe akimaka yango, kasi zoba atombokaka, na elikya nyonso.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Moto oyo asilikaka noki asalaka makambo ya bozoba, mpe bayinaka moto ya mayele mabe.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Bato oyo bazangi mayele bazwaka bozoba lokola libula, kasi bato ya mayele bazwaka boyebi lokola motole.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Bato mabe bakofukama liboso ya bato ya malamu, bato ya mitema mabe bakofukama na ekuke ya bato ya sembo.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Mobola ayinamaka ata epai na moninga na ye moko, kasi mozwi azalaka na baninga ebele.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; 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 despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Boni, bato oyo babongisaka kosala mabe bazali na libunga te? Kasi boboto mpe solo ezali epai ya bato oyo babongisaka kosala bolamu.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Mosala nyonso epesaka litomba, kasi maloba ya pamba ememaka na bobola.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Bozwi ya bato ya bwanya ezalaka lokola motole na bango, kasi bozoba ya bato oyo bazangi mayele ezalaka lokola liboma.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Motatoli oyo alobaka solo abikisaka bato ebele, kasi motatoli ya mabe alobaka lokuta.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Moto oyo atosaka Yawe akomaka na kondima makasi, mpe bana na ye bakozwa ekimelo.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Kotosa Yawe ezali etima ya bomoi, ekangolaka na mitambo ya kufa.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Kozala na bato ebele epesaka mokonzi lokumu, kasi mokonzi akweyaka soki azali na bato te.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Moto oyo asilikaka noki te azalaka mayele, kasi moto oyo akangaka motema te abimisaka bozoba na ye.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Motema oyo ezali na kimia epesaka bomoi na nzoto, kasi bilulela epolisaka mikuwa.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness 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 oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Babenganaka moto mabe mpo na mabe na ye, kasi moto ya sembo awumelaka na elikya kino ata na kufa.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Bwanya ewumelaka kati na motema ya moto oyo azali na bososoli; kasi boni, ekoyebana solo kati na bazoba?
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Bosembo etombolaka ekolo, kasi lisumu ememelaka bato soni.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Mokonzi asepelaka na mosali ya bwanya, kasi mosali oyo ayokisaka ye soni apelisaka kanda na ye.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
