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 whosoever erreth thereby 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 as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
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 slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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.
Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
Most men wilt proclaim every one his 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.
A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are 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 judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike 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 a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 even both of them.
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.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is 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 rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
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 that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] 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.
Bread of falsehood 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.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou 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 openeth wide 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 the blackest darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save 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 goings are of the LORD; how then can 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 rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and 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 hoary head.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
