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 causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
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 trieth the hearts.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth 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.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth 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 becometh 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 hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A reproof entereth 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] seeketh 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.
Whoso rewardeth 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 letteth 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 justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth 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!
Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A friend loveth 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 striketh hands, [and] becometh 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 loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth 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 begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
A wicked [man] taketh 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 hath 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 bare 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 hath knowledge spareth 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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
