Masese 18
1 Moyimi alukaka kaka kosepelisa baposa na ye, atelemelaka bososoli nyonso.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Moto oyo azangi mayele asepelaka te kozwa tango ya kokanisa, kasi asepelaka kaka kotalisa makanisi ya motema na ye.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 Soki moto mabe ayei, kotiola mpe eyaka; soki soni eyei, kofinga mpe eyaka.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, 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.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Ezali malamu te kolongisa moto mabe mpe kokweyisa moyengebene, kati na kosambisama.
Acceptance 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 for stripes calleth.
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, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 Kombo ya Yawe ezali lokola ndako molayi batonga makasi; moyengebene akimelaka kuna mpe azwaka ebombamelo ya makasi.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, 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.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Kopesa eyano liboso ya koyoka ezali liboma mpe bozoba.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is 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 sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 Motema ya moto ya mayele ezwaka mayele, mpe litoyi ya moto ya bwanya elukaka boyebi.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Kado efungolelaka moto oyo apesi yango nzela mpe ekotisaka ye liboso ya bato minene.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Moto ya liboso na kosamba amonanaka lokola nde alongi; kasi soki moto oyo azali kosamba na ye ayei, akotelemela ye.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Zeke esilisaka koswana mpe ekataka makambo kati na bato ya makasi.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
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.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 Mobola alobaka na mongongo ya kobondela, kasi mozwi azongisaka eyano na lolendo.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth 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 [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
