Masese 17
1 Kolia na kimia ndambo ya lipa ya kokawuka ezali malamu koleka kovanda na ndako etonda na misuni elongo na koswana.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting 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 will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 Moto oyo asalaka mabe ayokaka maloba ya bato mabe, mokosi apesaka litoyi na ye na maloba ya lokuta.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives 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.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 Bakitani bazali motole ya bakoko, mpe baboti bazali lokumu ya bana.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 Ndenge maloba ya lokumu ebongi te mpo na moto mabe, ndenge mpe maloba ya lokuta ebongi te mpo na mokonzi.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 Kanyaka ezalaka lokola kisi na miso ya moto oyo azali na yango; alongaka na esika nyonso oyo akendaka.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Moto oyo abombaka mabe alukaka bolingo, kasi moto oyo azongelaka yango tango nyonso akabolaka bato oyo balingani.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 Pamela ezalaka na litomba mpo na moto ya mayele, kasi kobeta zoba bafimbu nkama moko ezalaka na litomba te.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 Moto mabe alukaka kaka kotomboka, kasi bakotindela ye ntoma ya motema mabe mpo na kotelemela ye.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Kokutana na ngombolo oyo babotoli bana ezali malamu koleka kokutana na zoba oyo azali kati na bolema.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 Pasi etikaka ata moke te ndako ya moto oyo azongisaka mabe mpo na malamu.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Kobanda koswana ezali lokola kofungola nzela ya mayi; tika na yo liboso ete kobendana ekoma makasi.
The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 Moto oyo alongisaka bato mabe mpe moto oyo akweyisaka bato ya sembo bazali, bango mibale, nkele na miso ya Yawe.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Mpo na nini mbongo ezala na maboko ya zoba? Mpo ete asomba bwanya wana azali na posa na yango te!
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 Molingami alingaka tango nyonso, mpe akomaka ndeko na tango ya pasi.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 Moto oyo azangi mayele abetaka tolo mpo na kondima baniongo ya mopaya.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 Moto oyo alingaka koswana alingaka masumu; moto oyo atongaka ekuke na ye na likolo amilukelaka kokweya.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 Moto ya motema mabe abongaka te, mpe moto ya lolemo ya lokuta akomona pasi.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 Kozala na mwana ya zoba esalaka pasi na motema, mpe tata ya moto ya liboma akotikala kozala na esengo te.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Motema ya esengo ebikisaka nzoto, kasi motema oyo etutami ebukaka mikuwa.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Moto mabe azwaka kanyaka na nkuku mpo na kobebisa nzela ya bosembo.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Bwanya emonanaka na elongi ya moto ya mayele, kasi miso ya zoba ekendaka kino na suka ya mokili.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on 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 the woman who bore 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 never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko na ye azali na boyebi; moto oyo alengaka-lengaka te azali mayele.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
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 is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
