Masese 17
1 Kolia na kimia ndambo ya lipa ya kokawuka ezali malamu koleka kovanda na ndako etonda na misuni elongo na koswana.
Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
2 Mosali ya bwanya akozala na bokonzi likolo ya mwana mobali oyo asalaka soni, mpe akozwa libula elongo na bandeko.
A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
5 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola anyokolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango; moto oyo asepelaka na pasi ya moninga akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
11 Moto mabe alukaka kaka kotomboka, kasi bakotindela ye ntoma ya motema mabe mpo na kotelemela ye.
Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
16 Mpo na nini mbongo ezala na maboko ya zoba? Mpo ete asomba bwanya wana azali na posa na yango te!
Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
18 Moto oyo azangi mayele abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya.
It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
25 Mwana oyo azangi mayele apesaka tata na ye mawa, mpe ayokisaka mama na ye pasi na motema.
A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
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 stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
