Masese 22
1 Kokende sango ya malamu ezali malamu koleka kozala na bomengo mingi; lokumu ezali malamu koleka palata mpe wolo.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Mozwi mpe mobola bazali na likambo moko ya lisanga: ezali Yawe nde azali Mokeli na bango mibale.
The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele akoleka wana mpe akokutana na pasi.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Komikitisa mpe kotosa Yawe ememaka bozwi, lokumu mpe bomoi.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Nzela ya bato mabe ezalaka na banzube mpe mitambo, kasi moto oyo abatelaka molimo na ye azalaka mosika na yango.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Lakisa mwana nzela oyo asengeli kotambola wuta na bomwana na ye; ezala tango akokoma mokolo, akobunga yango te.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Mozwi azalaka mokonzi ya mobola, mpe modefi azalaka mowumbu ya modefisi.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Moto oyo alonaka masumu abukaka pasi, mpe makasi ya kanda na ye nyonso ekosuka.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Moto oyo akabaka na esengo akopambolama, pamba te akabolaka bilei na ye na mobola.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Bengana motioli, bongo kowelana, koswana mpe kofingana ekosila.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Moto oyo alingaka kozala peto na motema, oyo ngolu ezalaka na bibebu na ye, mokonzi azalaka molingami na ye.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Miso na Yawe ebatelaka boyebi, kasi akweyisaka maloba ya moto oyo azangi mayele.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ezali kuna na libanda, ekoboma ngai na kati-kati ya balabala. »
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 Monoko ya mwasi ya ndumba ezalaka lokola libulu ya mozindo; moto oyo Yawe asilikeli akweyaka kuna.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Motema ya mwana moke ezalaka na bozoba, bongo fimbu ya pamela elongolaka yango kati na ye.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola mpo ete akoma na bomengo mingi mpe oyo apesaka mozwi bakado bakokweya na bobola.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Pesa matoyi mpe yoka toli ya bato ya bwanya, mpe tika ete motema na yo endima mateya na ngai.
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 Pamba te ekozala esengo soki obombi yango na motema na yo, mpe soki yango nyonso ezali pene ya bibebu na yo.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Nateyi yo yango lelo mpo ete elikya na yo ezala kati na Yawe.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Boni, lobi eleki, nakomelaki yo te batoli koleka tuku misato, batoli ya bwanya mpe ya boyebi,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 batoli oyo epesaka mateya ya solo mpe maloba ya solo mpo ete okoka kozongisa biyano ya solo na moto oyo atindi yo?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Kobotola te na makasi biloko ya mobola, pamba te azali mobola, konyokola te moto ya pasi na esambiselo,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 pamba te Yawe akobundela bango mpe akobebisa bomoi ya bato oyo bakobebisa bomoi na bango.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Kozala molingami te ya moto ya kanda, mpe kosangana te na moto ya motema moto-moto,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 noki te okoyekola nzela na ye mpe okokangama na motambo na ye.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Kozala te na molongo ya bato oyo batombolaka maboko mpo na kondima kofuta baniongo ya bato mosusu,
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 pamba te soki ozali na yo na makoki ya kofuta te, mpo na nini okolinga ete babotola ata mbeto na yo ya kolala?
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Kozongisa na sima te mondelo ya kala oyo batata na yo bakataki.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Osila komona moto oyo ayebi mosala na ye malamu? Akosala kaka liboso ya bakonzi, akosala te liboso ya bato ya molili.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
