Masese 20
1 Vino elobisaka bato maloba ya soni, masanga ya makasi ememaka mobulu; moto nyonso oyo amipesaka na yango akotikala te kokoma moto ya bwanya.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 Moto ya goyigoyi asalaka bilanga te likolo ya kobanga malili; boye na tango ya kobuka mbuma, alukaka mpe kobuka, kasi akozwa eloko te.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Moyengebene atambolaka na bosembo na ye; boye sima na ye, bana na ye bakozala bato ya esengo.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ezala litoyi oyo eyokaka to liso oyo emonaka, ezali Yawe nde asalaki nyonso mibale.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Kolingaka pongi te, noki te okokoma mobola; sala ete miso na yo ezalaka ya kofungwama, mpe okozanga te bilei ya kobomba.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Moto oyo asombaka biloko alobaka: « Biloko oyo ezali mabe! Ezali malamu te! » Kasi soki akei, atombolaka mapeka mpo na biloko oyo azwi.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Kamata elamba ya moto oyo alapi ndayi mpo na niongo ya moto mosusu; bomba yango lokola ndanga soki alapi ndayi mpo na mwasi mopaya.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bilei oyo ezwami na nzela ya lokuta ezalaka elengi na monoko ya moto, kasi, na sima, monoko na ye etondaka na zelo.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Kilo oyo ekesana na kilo mosusu ezalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, mpe emekelo kilo ya lokuta ezalaka eloko ya malamu te.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 Ezali Yawe nde atambolisaka matambe ya moto; bongo ndenge nini moto akoki kososola ye moko nzela na ye?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 Ezali motambo mpo na moto koloba na lombangu: « Eloko oyo ebulisami mpo na Yawe, » mpe kokanisa sima na ye kolapa ndayi.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
