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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
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 plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Moyengebene atambolaka na bosembo na ye; boye sima na ye, bana na ye bakozala bato ya esengo.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them 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 in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
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 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 thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt 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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
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 falsehood 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.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 put out in midnight darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is 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 from the LORD; How, then, can a 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, 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 inner chambers of his body.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
