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 bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Mosali ya bwanya akozala na bokonzi likolo ya mwana mobali oyo asalaka soni, mpe akozwa libula elongo na bandeko.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire 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 wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola anyokolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango; moto oyo asepelaka na pasi ya moninga akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Moto mabe alukaka kaka kotomboka, kasi bakotindela ye ntoma ya motema mabe mpo na kotelemela ye.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant 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 come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Mpo na nini mbongo ezala na maboko ya zoba? Mpo ete asomba bwanya wana azali na posa na yango te!
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Moto oyo azangi mayele abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on 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 is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
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 the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
