Masese 16
1 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi eyano ewutaka epai na Yawe.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka peto na miso na ye, kasi Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
3 Pesa misala na yo epai na Yawe, mpe mabongisi na yo ekokokisama.
4 Yawe asalaka makambo nyonso na tina, ezala bato mabe, asala bango mpo na mokolo ya pasi.
5 Moto nyonso ya lolendo azalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe; solo, akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 Bolingo mpe bosembo elongolaka mbeba; kotosa Yawe etindaka moto kokima mabe.
7 Soki Yawe asepeli na nzela ya moto, akoyokanisa ye na banguna na ye.
8 Kozwa biloko moke kati na bosembo ezali malamu koleka kozwa bomengo ebele kati na nzela ya mabe.
9 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi ezali Yawe nde asalaka ete ekokisama to te.
10 Maloba ya mokonzi ezali lokola Liloba na Nzambe, ekweyaka te kati na kosambisama.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgement.
11 Emekelo kilo ya sembo mpe basani oyo bamekelaka kilo ezali ya Yawe, mpe kilo nyonso ya saki ezali likambo na Ye.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 Ezali malamu te mpo na mokonzi kosala mabe, pamba te bokonzi elendisamaka nde na nzela ya bosembo.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Bakonzi balingaka maloba ya solo, mpe bapesaka moto oyo alobaka na bosembo lokumu.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 Kanda ya mokonzi ememaka na kufa, kasi moto ya bwanya ayebaka kokitisa yango.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 Soki elongi ya mokonzi ezali kongenga, elingi koloba: bomoi. Bolamu na ye ezali lokola lipata ya mvula ya eleko ya suka.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 Bwanya ezali malamu koleka wolo, mpe kozwa mayele ezali na litomba koleka palata.
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 Bato ya sembo batambolaka na nzela oyo epesaka mabe mokongo. Moto oyo abatelaka motema na ye abatelaka nde bomoi na ye.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Lolendo eyaka liboso ya kobebisama, mpe komimatisa eyaka liboso ya kokweyisama.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Kozala moto ya komikitisa mpe kozala elongo na bato bakelela ezali malamu koleka kokabola bomengo ya bitumba elongo na bato ya lolendo.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 Moto oyo akanisaka na tina na makambo amonaka bolamu. Esengo na moto oyo atiaka elikya na Yawe.
[He who is] skilful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 Babengaka moto oyo azali na motema ya bwanya moto ya mayele, mpe bibebu ya kimia ebakisaka boyebi.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Mayele ezali etima ya bomoi mpo na bato oyo bazali na yango, kasi bozoba ezali etumbu mpo na bazoba.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekomisaka monoko na ye mayele, mpe bibebu na ye ebakisaka boyebi.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Maloba ya elengi ezalaka lokola mafuta ya nzoyi, epesaka kimia na motema mpe lobiko na mikuwa.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 Nzela mosusu emonanaka sembo na miso ya bato, nzokande, na suka, ememaka na kufa.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 Nzala etindaka mosali ete asala mosala, monoko na ye etindikaka ye na mosala.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 Moto ya Beliali abongisaka kosala mabe, mpe maloba na ye ezali lokola moto oyo etumbaka.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 Moto mabe alonaka koswana, moto ya songisongi akabolaka baninga.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 Moto ya mobulu abendaka moninga na ye mpe atambolisaka ye na nzela ya mabe.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 Moto oyo akangi miso mpe bibebu na ye mpo na kosala mabongisi ya mabe asili kosala masumu.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 Suki ya pembe ezali motole ya nkembo; bazwaka yango na nzela ya bosembo.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Moto oyo akangaka motema azali makasi koleka elombe, mpe moto oyo ayebi komikanga azali makasi koleka moto oyo abotolaka bingumba.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 Bakobetaka zeke kati na elamba ya Nganga-Nzambe, kasi mikano nyonso ewutaka na Yawe.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
