Masese 16
1 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi eyano ewutaka epai na Yawe.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka peto na miso na ye, kasi Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Pesa misala na yo epai na Yawe, mpe mabongisi na yo ekokokisama.
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 Yawe asalaka makambo nyonso na tina, ezala bato mabe, asala bango mpo na mokolo ya pasi.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 Moto nyonso ya lolendo azalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe; solo, akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6 Bolingo mpe bosembo elongolaka mbeba; kotosa Yawe etindaka moto kokima mabe.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 Soki Yawe asepeli na nzela ya moto, akoyokanisa ye na banguna na ye.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Kozwa biloko moke kati na bosembo ezali malamu koleka kozwa bomengo ebele kati na nzela ya mabe.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi ezali Yawe nde asalaka ete ekokisama to te.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 Maloba ya mokonzi ezali lokola Liloba na Nzambe, ekweyaka te kati na kosambisama.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Emekelo kilo ya sembo mpe basani oyo bamekelaka kilo ezali ya Yawe, mpe kilo nyonso ya saki ezali likambo na Ye.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Ezali malamu te mpo na mokonzi kosala mabe, pamba te bokonzi elendisamaka nde na nzela ya bosembo.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Bakonzi balingaka maloba ya solo, mpe bapesaka moto oyo alobaka na bosembo lokumu.
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 Kanda ya mokonzi ememaka na kufa, kasi moto ya bwanya ayebaka kokitisa yango.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 Soki elongi ya mokonzi ezali kongenga, elingi koloba: bomoi. Bolamu na ye ezali lokola lipata ya mvula ya eleko ya suka.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 Bwanya ezali malamu koleka wolo, mpe kozwa mayele ezali na litomba koleka palata.
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious 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 path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Lolendo eyaka liboso ya kobebisama, mpe komimatisa eyaka liboso ya kokweyisama.
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted 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.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 Moto oyo akanisaka na tina na makambo amonaka bolamu. Esengo na moto oyo atiaka elikya na Yawe.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 Babengaka moto oyo azali na motema ya bwanya moto ya mayele, mpe bibebu ya kimia ebakisaka boyebi.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Mayele ezali etima ya bomoi mpo na bato oyo bazali na yango, kasi bozoba ezali etumbu mpo na bazoba.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 Motema ya moto ya bwanya ekomisaka monoko na ye mayele, mpe bibebu na ye ebakisaka boyebi.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Maloba ya elengi ezalaka lokola mafuta ya nzoyi, epesaka kimia na motema mpe lobiko na mikuwa.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 Nzela mosusu emonanaka sembo na miso ya bato, nzokande, na suka, ememaka na kufa.
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 Nzala etindaka mosali ete asala mosala, monoko na ye etindikaka ye na mosala.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 Moto ya Beliali abongisaka kosala mabe, mpe maloba na ye ezali lokola moto oyo etumbaka.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Moto mabe alonaka koswana, moto ya songisongi akabolaka baninga.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 Moto ya mobulu abendaka moninga na ye mpe atambolisaka ye na nzela ya mabe.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Moto oyo akangi miso mpe bibebu na ye mpo na kosala mabongisi ya mabe asili kosala masumu.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Suki ya pembe ezali motole ya nkembo; bazwaka yango na nzela ya bosembo.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Moto oyo akangaka motema azali makasi koleka elombe, mpe moto oyo ayebi komikanga azali makasi koleka moto oyo abotolaka bingumba.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Bakobetaka zeke kati na elamba ya Nganga-Nzambe, kasi mikano nyonso ewutaka na Yawe.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
