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 wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 soki opesi litoyi na yo na maloba ya bwanya mpe okabi motema na yo na makambo ya mayele;
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 soki obeleli mayele mpe ogangi epai ya bososoli;
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 soki oluki yango penza ndenge balukaka palata to bomengo oyo ebombama,
If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
5 okososola solo soki kotosa Yawe elakisi nini mpe okozwa boyebi ya Nzambe.
Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 Pamba te Yawe nde apesaka bwanya, mpe maloba ya monoko na Ye epesaka mayele mpe bososoli.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Abongiselaka bato ya sembo elonga mpe azali nguba ya bato oyo batambolaka na bosembo.
He treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 Pamba te abatelaka bayengebene mpe nzela ya bato oyo batosaka Ye.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Boye, okososola likambo nini ezali solo, alima, sembo: nzela nyonso oyo ememaka na bolamu.
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 Pamba te bwanya ekokota kati na motema na yo mpe boyebi ekosepelisa molimo na yo.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Bososoli ekobatela yo, mpe mayele ekobomba yo
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 mpo na kobikisa yo na nzela mabe, na moto oyo alobaka makambo ezanga tina,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse things;
13 na bato oyo batikaka nzela ya sembo mpo na kolanda nzela ya molili,
[From those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 na bato oyo basepelaka kosala mabe, na bato oyo bazalaka na esengo ya kokota na bozindo ya mabe,
Who rejoice to do evil, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 na bato oyo nzela na bango etengama-tengama mpe etamboli na bango etonda na mobulu.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Bwanya ekobikisa yo lisusu liboso ya mwasi mopaya, liboso ya mwasi oyo atonda na maloba ya sukali,
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 oyo akima mobali na ye ya bolenge mpe abosana boyokani oyo asalaki elongo na Nzambe na ye;
That forsaketh the friend of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 pamba te ndako na ye ememaka na kufa, mpe nzela na ye ememaka na mboka ya bakufi.
For she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Moto moko te oyo akotaka epai na ye azongaka mpe amonaka lisusu nzela ya bomoi.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Boye, okotambola na nzela ya bato malamu mpe okolanda nzela ya bato ya sembo.
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.
21 Pamba te bato ya sembo bakovanda na mokili, mpe bato oyo bazangi pamela bakotikala kati na yango;
For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 kasi bato mabe bakokufa na mokili mpe bakolongola bango kati na mokili ya bato ya songisongi.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
