Masese 16
1 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi eyano ewutaka epai na Yawe.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of 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 weigher of spirits.
3 Pesa misala na yo epai na Yawe, mpe mabongisi na yo ekokokisama.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 Yawe asalaka makambo nyonso na tina, ezala bato mabe, asala bango mpo na mokolo ya pasi.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Moto nyonso ya lolendo azalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe; solo, akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer 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 men depart from evil.
7 Soki Yawe asepeli na nzela ya moto, akoyokanisa ye na banguna na ye.
When the ways of man shall 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 great revenues with iniquity.
9 Motema ya moto esalaka mabongisi, kasi ezali Yawe nde asalaka ete ekokisama to te.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Maloba ya mokonzi ezali lokola Liloba na Nzambe, ekweyaka te kati na kosambisama.
Divination 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.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Ezali malamu te mpo na mokonzi kosala mabe, pamba te bokonzi elendisamaka nde na nzela ya bosembo.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Bakonzi balingaka maloba ya solo, mpe bapesaka moto oyo alobaka na bosembo lokumu.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 Kanda ya mokonzi ememaka na kufa, kasi moto ya bwanya ayebaka kokitisa yango.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify 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 is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 Bwanya ezali malamu koleka wolo, mpe kozwa mayele ezali na litomba koleka palata.
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 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 departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Lolendo eyaka liboso ya kobebisama, mpe komimatisa eyaka liboso ya kokweyisama.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up 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 proud.
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 he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 Babengaka moto oyo azali na motema ya bwanya moto ya mayele, mpe bibebu ya kimia ebakisaka boyebi.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Mayele ezali etima ya bomoi mpo na bato oyo bazali na yango, kasi bozoba ezali etumbu mpo na bazoba.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
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 shall add grace to his lips.
24 Maloba ya elengi ezalaka lokola mafuta ya nzoyi, epesaka kimia na motema mpe lobiko na mikuwa.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Nzela mosusu emonanaka sembo na miso ya bato, nzokande, na suka, ememaka na kufa.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 Nzala etindaka mosali ete asala mosala, monoko na ye etindikaka ye na mosala.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 Moto ya Beliali abongisaka kosala mabe, mpe maloba na ye ezali lokola moto oyo etumbaka.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Moto mabe alonaka koswana, moto ya songisongi akabolaka baninga.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 Moto ya mobulu abendaka moninga na ye mpe atambolisaka ye na nzela ya mabe.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Moto oyo akangi miso mpe bibebu na ye mpo na kosala mabongisi ya mabe asili kosala masumu.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
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.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 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 disposed of by the Lord.
