Masese 2
1 Mwana na ngai, soki ondimi maloba na ngai mpe obateli kati na motema na yo mibeko na ngai;
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,
2 soki opesi litoyi na yo na maloba ya bwanya mpe okabi motema na yo na makambo ya mayele;
That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:
3 soki obeleli mayele mpe ogangi epai ya bososoli;
For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:
4 soki oluki yango penza ndenge balukaka palata to bomengo oyo ebombama,
If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:
5 okososola solo soki kotosa Yawe elakisi nini mpe okozwa boyebi ya Nzambe.
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.
6 Pamba te Yawe nde apesaka bwanya, mpe maloba ya monoko na Ye epesaka mayele mpe bososoli.
Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
7 Abongiselaka bato ya sembo elonga mpe azali nguba ya bato oyo batambolaka na bosembo.
He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity.
8 Pamba te abatelaka bayengebene mpe nzela ya bato oyo batosaka Ye.
Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.
9 Boye, okososola likambo nini ezali solo, alima, sembo: nzela nyonso oyo ememaka na bolamu.
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 Pamba te bwanya ekokota kati na motema na yo mpe boyebi ekosepelisa molimo na yo.
If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
11 Bososoli ekobatela yo, mpe mayele ekobomba yo
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
12 mpo na kobikisa yo na nzela mabe, na moto oyo alobaka makambo ezanga tina,
That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:
13 na bato oyo batikaka nzela ya sembo mpo na kolanda nzela ya molili,
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
14 na bato oyo basepelaka kosala mabe, na bato oyo bazalaka na esengo ya kokota na bozindo ya mabe,
Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things:
15 na bato oyo nzela na bango etengama-tengama mpe etamboli na bango etonda na mobulu.
Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
16 Bwanya ekobikisa yo lisusu liboso ya mwasi mopaya, liboso ya mwasi oyo atonda na maloba ya sukali,
That thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words:
17 oyo akima mobali na ye ya bolenge mpe abosana boyokani oyo asalaki elongo na Nzambe na ye;
And forsaketh the guide of her youth,
18 pamba te ndako na ye ememaka na kufa, mpe nzela na ye ememaka na mboka ya bakufi.
And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. (questioned)
19 Moto moko te oyo akotaka epai na ye azongaka mpe amonaka lisusu nzela ya bomoi.
None that go in unto her shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life,
20 Boye, okotambola na nzela ya bato malamu mpe okolanda nzela ya bato ya sembo.
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
21 Pamba te bato ya sembo bakovanda na mokili, mpe bato oyo bazangi pamela bakotikala kati na yango;
For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it.
22 kasi bato mabe bakokufa na mokili mpe bakolongola bango kati na mokili ya bato ya songisongi.
But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it.
