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 rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Mosali ya bwanya akozala na bokonzi likolo ya mwana mobali oyo asalaka soni, mpe akozwa libula elongo na bandeko.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola anyokolaka Mokeli ya mobola yango; moto oyo asepelaka na pasi ya moninga akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on 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, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Mpo na nini mbongo ezala na maboko ya zoba? Mpo ete asomba bwanya wana azali na posa na yango te!
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
The friend is loving 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 heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end 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 provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
