Masese 17
1 Kolia na kimia ndambo ya lipa ya kokawuka ezali malamu koleka kovanda na ndako etonda na misuni elongo na koswana.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Mosali ya bwanya akozala na bokonzi likolo ya mwana mobali oyo asalaka soni, mpe akozwa libula elongo na bandeko.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola anyokolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango; moto oyo asepelaka na pasi ya moninga akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 Moto mabe alukaka kaka kotomboka, kasi bakotindela ye ntoma ya motema mabe mpo na kotelemela ye.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Mpo na nini mbongo ezala na maboko ya zoba? Mpo ete asomba bwanya wana azali na posa na yango te!
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Moto oyo azangi mayele abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Mwana oyo azangi mayele apesaka tata na ye mawa, mpe ayokisaka mama na ye pasi na motema.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Ezala moto ya liboma, soki avandi kimia, amonanaka lokola moto ya bwanya; moto oyo akangaka monoko na ye amonanaka lokola moto ya mayele.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
