Masese 18
1 Moyimi alukaka kaka kosepelisa baposa na ye, atelemelaka bososoli nyonso.
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
2 Moto oyo azangi mayele asepelaka te kozwa tango ya kokanisa, kasi asepelaka kaka kotalisa makanisi ya motema na ye.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Soki moto mabe ayei, kotiola mpe eyaka; soki soni eyei, kofinga mpe eyaka.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
4 Maloba ya monoko ya moto ezalaka lokola mayi ya mozindo; etima ya bwanya ezalaka lokola mayi ya ebale oyo etondi makasi.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 Ezali malamu te kolongisa moto mabe mpe kokweyisa moyengebene, kati na kosambisama.
To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
6 Bibebu ya moto oyo azangi mayele eyeisaka koswana, mpe monoko na ye eyeisaka fimbu.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
7 Monoko ya moto oyo azangi mayele ememelaka ye kufa, mpe bibebu na ye ezalaka motambo mpo na molimo na ye moko.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Moto oyo azongaka sima na mosala na ye azali ndeko ya mobebisi.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Kombo ya Yawe ezali lokola ndako molayi batonga makasi; moyengebene akimelaka kuna mpe azwaka ebombamelo ya makasi.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
11 Bomengo ya mozwi ezali engumba na ye, oyo batonga makasi; akanisaka ete ezali lokola mir ya molayi.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Liboso ete moto akweya, motema na ye ekomaka na lolendo; kasi komikitisa eyaka liboso ya nkembo.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13 Kopesa eyano liboso ya koyoka ezali liboma mpe bozoba.
He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14 Kimia kati na motema elendisaka moto na tango ya bokono, kasi nani akokoka kolendisa motema oyo etutami?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Motema ya moto ya mayele ezwaka mayele, mpe litoyi ya moto ya bwanya elukaka boyebi.
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Kado efungolelaka moto oyo apesi yango nzela mpe ekotisaka ye liboso ya bato minene.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Moto ya liboso na kosamba amonanaka lokola nde alongi; kasi soki moto oyo azali kosamba na ye ayei, akotelemela ye.
He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18 Zeke esilisaka koswana mpe ekataka makambo kati na bato ya makasi.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
19 Kokota lisusu na motema ya ndeko oyo osali mabe ezalaka pasi koleka kokota na engumba batonga makasi; mpe koswana na moto ezali lokola kokanga bikuke ya ndako batonga makasi na bibende ya minene.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Moto atondisaka libumu na ye na nzela ya mbuma ya monoko na ye mpe akotonda na lifuti ya bibebu na ye.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
21 Kufa mpe bomoi ezali na se ya nguya ya lolemo; moto oyo alingaka lolemo akolia mbuma na yango.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 Mobali oyo azwi mwasi ya malamu azwi bomengo, azwi ngolu kowuta epai na Yawe.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
23 Mobola alobaka na mongongo ya kobondela, kasi mozwi azongisaka eyano na lolendo.
A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
24 Moto oyo azalaka na balingami ebele amitiaka na pasi, kasi ezali na molingami moko ya motema, oyo aleki ata ndeko.
He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
