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 luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Moto ya goyigoyi asalaka bilanga te likolo ya kobanga malili; boye na tango ya kobuka mbuma, alukaka mpe kobuka, kasi akozwa eloko te.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 Moyengebene atambolaka na bosembo na ye; boye sima na ye, bana na ye bakozala bato ya esengo.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 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 hath made them both.
13 Kolingaka pongi te, noki te okokoma mobola; sala ete miso na yo ezalaka ya kofungwama, mpe okozanga te bilei ya kobomba.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled 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 is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
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 away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Bilei oyo ezwami na nzela ya lokuta ezalaka elengi na monoko ya moto, kasi, na sima, monoko na ye etondaka na zelo.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Kilo oyo ekesana na kilo mosusu ezalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, mpe emekelo kilo ya lokuta ezalaka eloko ya malamu te.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Ezali Yawe nde atambolisaka matambe ya moto; bongo ndenge nini moto akoki kososola ye moko nzela na ye?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own 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 ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
