Masese 21
1 Kati na loboko na Yawe, motema ya mokonzi ezalaka lokola moluka oyo atindaka esika nyonso oyo alingi.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka alima na miso na ye, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Na miso na Yawe, kosala makambo ya sembo mpe ya alima ezali motuya koleka bambeka ya kotumba.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Miso ya lofundu, motema ya lolendo mpe kongenga ya bato mabe ezali masumu.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 Mabongisi ya moto oyo asalaka mosala ememaka ye na bomengo, kasi kozala motema moto-moto ememaka na kozanga.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Kozwa bomengo na nzela ya lokuta ezali kaka molinga oyo epanzanaka mpe motambo oyo ememaka na kufa.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Makambo ya bato mabe ebebisaka bango moko, pamba te baboyaka kosala makambo ya sembo.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Nzela ya moto mabe ezalaka na mabaku, kasi mosala ya moto ya peto ezalaka sembo.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Molimo ya moto mabe elingaka kaka makambo mabe; ata moninga na ye penza azwaka ngolu te na miso na ye.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Tango bapesaka motioli etumbu, zoba akomaka moto ya bwanya; mpe tango bapesaka malako epai ya moto ya bwanya, azwaka solo boyebi.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Nzambe ya sembo atalaka na bokebi makambo oyo esalemaka kati na bandako ya bato mabe, mpe akweyisaka bango kati na pasi.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Soki moto akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka koganga ya mobola, ye mpe bakoyanola ye te tango akoganga.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Likabo oyo bapesi na nkuku ekitisaka kanda, mpe kado oyo batie na tolo ekitisaka kanda makasi.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Ezali esengo mpo na moyengebene kosambisa makambo na sembo, kasi yango ezali pasi makasi mpo na bato oyo basalaka mabe.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Moto oyo abungi nzela ya bwanya akovanda kati na lisanga ya bakufi.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Moto oyo alingaka biyenga akokoma mobola; moto oyo alingaka masanga ya vino mpe mafuta akotikala kokoma mozwi te.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Moto mabe azalaka lokola motuya oyo bafutaka mpo na kosikola moto ya sembo; moto ya sembo te azalaka lokola motuya oyo bafutaka mpo na kosikola moto ya alima.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Kovanda kati na esobe ezali malamu koleka kovanda esika moko na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka mpe asilikaka-silikaka.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Bilei ya kitoko mpe mafuta ezalaka kati na ndako ya moto ya bwanya, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele abebisaka yango.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Moto oyo alukaka bosembo mpe bolingo akozwa bomoi, bomengo mpe lokumu.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Moto ya bwanya abundisaka engumba ya bato ya makasi, mpe akweyisaka bandako ya makasi oyo bato batielaka mitema.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko mpe lolemo na ye abatelaka molimo na ye na pasi.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Kombo ya moto ya lofundu mpe ya lolendo ezali: « Motioli. » Asalaka makambo na lolendo oyo eleka ndelo.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Baposa ya moto ya goyigoyi ekoboma ye, pamba te maboko na ye eboyaka kosala.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Mokolo mobimba, akufaka na ye kaka na baposa makasi; kasi moto ya sembo apesaka na kobomba te.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Mbeka ya moto mabe ezalaka nkele; ezalaka nkele koleka soki amemi yango na makanisi mabe.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Motatoli ya lokuta akokufa, kasi moto oyo ayokaka akoloba tango nyonso.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Moto mabe akangaka elongi na ye, kasi moto ya sembo alendisaka nzela na ye.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 Liboso na Yawe, bwanya moko te, mayele moko te mpe toli moko te ekoki kolonga.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 Mpunda ebongisama mpo na mokolo ya bitumba, kasi elonga ewutaka na Yawe.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
