Masese 21
1 Kati na loboko na Yawe, motema ya mokonzi ezalaka lokola moluka oyo atindaka esika nyonso oyo alingi.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka alima na miso na ye, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Na miso na Yawe, kosala makambo ya sembo mpe ya alima ezali motuya koleka bambeka ya kotumba.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Miso ya lofundu, motema ya lolendo mpe kongenga ya bato mabe ezali masumu.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 Mabongisi ya moto oyo asalaka mosala ememaka ye na bomengo, kasi kozala motema moto-moto ememaka na kozanga.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 Kozwa bomengo na nzela ya lokuta ezali kaka molinga oyo epanzanaka mpe motambo oyo ememaka na kufa.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Makambo ya bato mabe ebebisaka bango moko, pamba te baboyaka kosala makambo ya sembo.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Nzela ya moto mabe ezalaka na mabaku, kasi mosala ya moto ya peto ezalaka sembo.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Molimo ya moto mabe elingaka kaka makambo mabe; ata moninga na ye penza azwaka ngolu te na miso na ye.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
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, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 Nzambe ya sembo atalaka na bokebi makambo oyo esalemaka kati na bandako ya bato mabe, mpe akweyisaka bango kati na pasi.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 Soki moto akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka koganga ya mobola, ye mpe bakoyanola ye te tango akoganga.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 Likabo oyo bapesi na nkuku ekitisaka kanda, mpe kado oyo batie na tolo ekitisaka kanda makasi.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 Ezali esengo mpo na moyengebene kosambisa makambo na sembo, kasi yango ezali pasi makasi mpo na bato oyo basalaka mabe.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 Moto oyo abungi nzela ya bwanya akovanda kati na lisanga ya bakufi.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 Moto oyo alingaka biyenga akokoma mobola; moto oyo alingaka masanga ya vino mpe mafuta akotikala kokoma mozwi te.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever 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 pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 Kovanda kati na esobe ezali malamu koleka kovanda esika moko na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka mpe asilikaka-silikaka.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Bilei ya kitoko mpe mafuta ezalaka kati na ndako ya moto ya bwanya, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele abebisaka yango.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Moto oyo alukaka bosembo mpe bolingo akozwa bomoi, bomengo mpe lokumu.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Moto ya bwanya abundisaka engumba ya bato ya makasi, mpe akweyisaka bandako ya makasi oyo bato batielaka mitema.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko mpe lolemo na ye abatelaka molimo na ye na pasi.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 Kombo ya moto ya lofundu mpe ya lolendo ezali: « Motioli. » Asalaka makambo na lolendo oyo eleka ndelo.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Baposa ya moto ya goyigoyi ekoboma ye, pamba te maboko na ye eboyaka kosala.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Mokolo mobimba, akufaka na ye kaka na baposa makasi; kasi moto ya sembo apesaka na kobomba te.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 Mbeka ya moto mabe ezalaka nkele; ezalaka nkele koleka soki amemi yango na makanisi mabe.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Motatoli ya lokuta akokufa, kasi moto oyo ayokaka akoloba tango nyonso.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Moto mabe akangaka elongi na ye, kasi moto ya sembo alendisaka nzela na ye.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Liboso na Yawe, bwanya moko te, mayele moko te mpe toli moko te ekoki kolonga.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 Mpunda ebongisama mpo na mokolo ya bitumba, kasi elonga ewutaka na Yawe.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
