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 rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than 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 meet together: Yhwh is the maker of them all.
3 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele akoleka wana mpe akokutana na pasi.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Komikitisa mpe kotosa Yawe ememaka bozwi, lokumu mpe bomoi.
By humility and the fear of Yhwh are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Nzela ya bato mabe ezalaka na banzube mpe mitambo, kasi moto oyo abatelaka molimo na ye azalaka mosika na yango.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Lakisa mwana nzela oyo asengeli kotambola wuta na bomwana na ye; ezala tango akokoma mokolo, akobunga yango te.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and 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 the lender.
8 Moto oyo alonaka masumu abukaka pasi, mpe makasi ya kanda na ye nyonso ekosuka.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Moto oyo akabaka na esengo akopambolama, pamba te akabolaka bilei na ye na mobola.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Bengana motioli, bongo kowelana, koswana mpe kofingana ekosila.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach 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 pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 Miso na Yawe ebatelaka boyebi, kasi akweyisaka maloba ya moto oyo azangi mayele.
The eyes of Yhwh preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
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 streets.
14 Monoko ya mwasi ya ndumba ezalaka lokola libulu ya mozindo; moto oyo Yawe asilikeli akweyaka kuna.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of Yhwh shall fall therein.
15 Motema ya mwana moke ezalaka na bozoba, bongo fimbu ya pamela elongolaka yango kati na ye.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
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 riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Pesa matoyi mpe yoka toli ya bato ya bwanya, mpe tika ete motema na yo endima mateya na ngai.
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 Pamba te ekozala esengo soki obombi yango na motema na yo, mpe soki yango nyonso ezali pene ya bibebu na yo.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 Nateyi yo yango lelo mpo ete elikya na yo ezala kati na Yawe.
That thy trust may be in Yhwh, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Boni, lobi eleki, nakomelaki yo te batoli koleka tuku misato, batoli ya bwanya mpe ya boyebi,
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels 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 make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Kobotola te na makasi biloko ya mobola, pamba te azali mobola, konyokola te moto ya pasi na esambiselo,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 pamba te Yawe akobundela bango mpe akobebisa bomoi ya bato oyo bakobebisa bomoi na bango.
For Yhwh will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Kozala molingami te ya moto ya kanda, mpe kosangana te na moto ya motema moto-moto,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 noki te okoyekola nzela na ye mpe okokangama na motambo na ye.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Kozala te na molongo ya bato oyo batombolaka maboko mpo na kondima kofuta baniongo ya bato mosusu,
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are 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?
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Kozongisa na sima te mondelo ya kala oyo batata na yo bakataki.
Remove not the ancient landmark, 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
