Masese 18
1 Moyimi alukaka kaka kosepelisa baposa na ye, atelemelaka bososoli nyonso.
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
2 Moto oyo azangi mayele asepelaka te kozwa tango ya kokanisa, kasi asepelaka kaka kotalisa makanisi ya motema na ye.
A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
3 Soki moto mabe ayei, kotiola mpe eyaka; soki soni eyei, kofinga mpe eyaka.
Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—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 fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Ezali malamu te kolongisa moto mabe mpe kokweyisa moyengebene, kati na kosambisama.
Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Bibebu ya moto oyo azangi mayele eyeisaka koswana, mpe monoko na ye eyeisaka fimbu.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, 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.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Moto oyo azongaka sima na mosala na ye azali ndeko ya mobebisi.
He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
10 Kombo ya Yawe ezali lokola ndako molayi batonga makasi; moyengebene akimelaka kuna mpe azwaka ebombamelo ya makasi.
The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
11 Bomengo ya mozwi ezali engumba na ye, oyo batonga makasi; akanisaka ete ezali lokola mir ya molayi.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Liboso ete moto akweya, motema na ye ekomaka na lolendo; kasi komikitisa eyaka liboso ya nkembo.
The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
13 Kopesa eyano liboso ya koyoka ezali liboma mpe bozoba.
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
14 Kimia kati na motema elendisaka moto na tango ya bokono, kasi nani akokoka kolendisa motema oyo etutami?
The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
15 Motema ya moto ya mayele ezwaka mayele, mpe litoyi ya moto ya bwanya elukaka boyebi.
The heart of the intelligent 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.
The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
17 Moto ya liboso na kosamba amonanaka lokola nde alongi; kasi soki moto oyo azali kosamba na ye ayei, akotelemela ye.
The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
18 Zeke esilisaka koswana mpe ekataka makambo kati na bato ya makasi.
The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates 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 transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Moto atondisaka libumu na ye na nzela ya mbuma ya monoko na ye mpe akotonda na lifuti ya bibebu na ye.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is 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 loving it eat its fruit.
22 Mobali oyo azwi mwasi ya malamu azwi bomengo, azwi ngolu kowuta epai na Yawe.
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
23 Mobola alobaka na mongongo ya kobondela, kasi mozwi azongisaka eyano na lolendo.
The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
24 Moto oyo azalaka na balingami ebele amitiaka na pasi, kasi ezali na molingami moko ya motema, oyo aleki ata ndeko.
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
