Masese 21
1 Kati na loboko na Yawe, motema ya mokonzi ezalaka lokola moluka oyo atindaka esika nyonso oyo alingi.
The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka alima na miso na ye, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 Na miso na Yawe, kosala makambo ya sembo mpe ya alima ezali motuya koleka bambeka ya kotumba.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Miso ya lofundu, motema ya lolendo mpe kongenga ya bato mabe ezali masumu.
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 Mabongisi ya moto oyo asalaka mosala ememaka ye na bomengo, kasi kozala motema moto-moto ememaka na kozanga.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 Kozwa bomengo na nzela ya lokuta ezali kaka molinga oyo epanzanaka mpe motambo oyo ememaka na kufa.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 Makambo ya bato mabe ebebisaka bango moko, pamba te baboyaka kosala makambo ya sembo.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 Nzela ya moto mabe ezalaka na mabaku, kasi mosala ya moto ya peto ezalaka sembo.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 Molimo ya moto mabe elingaka kaka makambo mabe; ata moninga na ye penza azwaka ngolu te na miso na ye.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 Tango bapesaka motioli etumbu, zoba akomaka moto ya bwanya; mpe tango bapesaka malako epai ya moto ya bwanya, azwaka solo boyebi.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 Nzambe ya sembo atalaka na bokebi makambo oyo esalemaka kati na bandako ya bato mabe, mpe akweyisaka bango kati na pasi.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Soki moto akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka koganga ya mobola, ye mpe bakoyanola ye te tango akoganga.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 Likabo oyo bapesi na nkuku ekitisaka kanda, mpe kado oyo batie na tolo ekitisaka kanda makasi.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 Ezali esengo mpo na moyengebene kosambisa makambo na sembo, kasi yango ezali pasi makasi mpo na bato oyo basalaka mabe.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 Moto oyo abungi nzela ya bwanya akovanda kati na lisanga ya bakufi.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Moto oyo alingaka biyenga akokoma mobola; moto oyo alingaka masanga ya vino mpe mafuta akotikala kokoma mozwi te.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
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 evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 Kovanda kati na esobe ezali malamu koleka kovanda esika moko na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka mpe asilikaka-silikaka.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Bilei ya kitoko mpe mafuta ezalaka kati na ndako ya moto ya bwanya, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele abebisaka yango.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 Moto oyo alukaka bosembo mpe bolingo akozwa bomoi, bomengo mpe lokumu.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Moto ya bwanya abundisaka engumba ya bato ya makasi, mpe akweyisaka bandako ya makasi oyo bato batielaka mitema.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko mpe lolemo na ye abatelaka molimo na ye na pasi.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Kombo ya moto ya lofundu mpe ya lolendo ezali: « Motioli. » Asalaka makambo na lolendo oyo eleka ndelo.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 Baposa ya moto ya goyigoyi ekoboma ye, pamba te maboko na ye eboyaka kosala.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 Mokolo mobimba, akufaka na ye kaka na baposa makasi; kasi moto ya sembo apesaka na kobomba te.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 Mbeka ya moto mabe ezalaka nkele; ezalaka nkele koleka soki amemi yango na makanisi mabe.
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 Motatoli ya lokuta akokufa, kasi moto oyo ayokaka akoloba tango nyonso.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 Moto mabe akangaka elongi na ye, kasi moto ya sembo alendisaka nzela na ye.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 Liboso na Yawe, bwanya moko te, mayele moko te mpe toli moko te ekoki kolonga.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 Mpunda ebongisama mpo na mokolo ya bitumba, kasi elonga ewutaka na Yawe.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
