Masese 17
1 Kolia na kimia ndambo ya lipa ya kokawuka ezali malamu koleka kovanda na ndako etonda na misuni elongo na koswana.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices 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 shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola anyokolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango; moto oyo asepelaka na pasi ya moninga akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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 are their fathers.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes 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: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination 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 is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
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 void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent 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, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
