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 makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
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 hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Moyengebene atambolaka na bosembo na ye; boye sima na ye, bana na ye bakozala bato ya esengo.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if 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 are equally the Lord's work.
13 Kolingaka pongi te, noki te okokoma mobola; sala ete miso na yo ezalaka ya kofungwama, mpe okozanga te bilei ya kobomba.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Moto oyo asombaka biloko alobaka: « Biloko oyo ezali mabe! Ezali malamu te! » Kasi soki akei, atombolaka mapeka mpo na biloko oyo azwi.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
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 a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Bilei oyo ezwami na nzela ya lokuta ezalaka elengi na monoko ya moto, kasi, na sima, monoko na ye etondaka na zelo.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Kilo oyo ekesana na kilo mosusu ezalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, mpe emekelo kilo ya lokuta ezalaka eloko ya malamu te.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Ezali Yawe nde atambolisaka matambe ya moto; bongo ndenge nini moto akoki kososola ye moko nzela na ye?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of 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 danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
