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 an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Moto ya goyigoyi asalaka bilanga te likolo ya kobanga malili; boye na tango ya kobuka mbuma, alukaka mpe kobuka, kasi akozwa eloko te.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Moyengebene atambolaka na bosembo na ye; boye sima na ye, bana na ye bakozala bato ya esengo.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 Ezala litoyi oyo eyokaka to liso oyo emonaka, ezali Yawe nde asalaki nyonso mibale.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are 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.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your 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.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
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.
17 Bilei oyo ezwami na nzela ya lokuta ezalaka elengi na monoko ya moto, kasi, na sima, monoko na ye etondaka na zelo.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Kilo oyo ekesana na kilo mosusu ezalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, mpe emekelo kilo ya lokuta ezalaka eloko ya malamu te.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 Ezali Yawe nde atambolisaka matambe ya moto; bongo ndenge nini moto akoki kososola ye moko nzela na ye?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
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 hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
