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 a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Mosali ya bwanya akozala na bokonzi likolo ya mwana mobali oyo asalaka soni, mpe akozwa libula elongo na bandeko.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive 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; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
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 the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a 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 shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
Whoso returneth 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 rolleth onward.
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, Both alike are an 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 should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 Moto oyo azangi mayele abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya.
A man who lacketh 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 who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
The 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 the face of 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 bore him.
26 Ezali malamu te kopesa moto ya sembo etumbu, mpe ezali malamu te kobeta bato ya lokumu na miso ya bosembo.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit 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, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
