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 scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 Somo oyo mokonzi apesaka ezali lokola koganga ya nkosi; moto oyo apesaka ye kanda amilukelaka ye moko pasi.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Koboya koswana epesaka moto lokumu, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele amipesaka na yango.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Moto ya goyigoyi asalaka bilanga te likolo ya kobanga malili; boye na tango ya kobuka mbuma, alukaka mpe kobuka, kasi akozwa eloko te.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Makanisi ya motema ya moto ezalaka lokola ebale ya mozindo, moto ya mayele alukaka kotoka kati na yango.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Bato ebele batatolaka bolamu na bango, kasi nani akomona moto ya sembo?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —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.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 Soki mokonzi avandi na kiti mpo na kosambisa, miso na ye ebenganaka mabe nyonso.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Nani akoki koloba: « Nabatelaka motema na ngai peto, nazali peto, nazali na masumu te? »
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Kilo mibale mpe bimekelo mibale, nyonso ezali nkele na miso ya Yawe.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Bayebaka elenge mobali na nzela ya misala na ye, soki ezaleli na ye ezali peto mpe sembo.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 Ezala litoyi oyo eyokaka to liso oyo emonaka, ezali Yawe nde asalaki nyonso mibale.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh 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.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, 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, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 Wolo mpe babiju ezalaka na yango ebele, kasi bibebu oyo ebimisaka boyebi eleki na motuya.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, 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 his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Bilei oyo ezwami na nzela ya lokuta ezalaka elengi na monoko ya moto, kasi, na sima, monoko na ye etondaka na zelo.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Soki ozali kosala mabongisi, tunaka toli; mpe soki olingi kobunda bitumba, zala na ekenge mpe na mayele.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 Moto ya bilobaloba abimisaka basekele; yango wana kima bato oyo balobaka mingi.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Moto oyo alakelaka tata to mama na ye mabe, mwinda na ye ekokufa kati na molili.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Bomengo oyo moto azwi noki-noki na ebandeli ekopambolama te na suka.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Kolobaka te: « Nakozongisa mabe na mabe oyo basali ngai! » Kasi talela Yawe, mpe akobikisa yo.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may 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.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 Ezali Yawe nde atambolisaka matambe ya moto; bongo ndenge nini moto akoki kososola ye moko nzela na ye?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 Mokonzi ya bwanya abenganaka bato mabe mpe azangaka te kopesa bango etumbu.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 Molimo ya moto ezali mwinda oyo Yawe apesi ye; esosolaka bozindo nyonso ya motema ya moto.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Bolamu mpe solo ebatelaka mokonzi; alendisaka bokonzi na ye na nzela ya bolamu.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 Makasi ezali biju ya bilenge, mpe suki ya pembe ezali lokumu ya mibange.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Bapota elongolaka mabe, mpe bafimbu esukolaka bozindo ya molimo ya moto.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
