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, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
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 it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; 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.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
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 cleansed from my sin.
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Ezala litoyi oyo eyokaka to liso oyo emonaka, ezali Yawe nde asalaki nyonso mibale.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
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 thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou 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 is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
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 his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
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 falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Kilo oyo ekesana na kilo mosusu ezalaka nkele na miso ya Yawe, mpe emekelo kilo ya lokuta ezalaka eloko ya malamu te.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and 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?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he 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 a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
