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 preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to 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: the Lord is the maker them all.
3 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele akoleka wana mpe akokutana na pasi.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Komikitisa mpe kotosa Yawe ememaka bozwi, lokumu mpe bomoi.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, 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 on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
6 Lakisa mwana nzela oyo asengeli kotambola wuta na bomwana na ye; ezala tango akokoma mokolo, akobunga yango te.
Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
7 Mozwi azalaka mokonzi ya mobola, mpe modefi azalaka mowumbu ya modefisi.
A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
8 Moto oyo alonaka masumu abukaka pasi, mpe makasi ya kanda na ye nyonso ekosuka.
He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
9 Moto oyo akabaka na esengo akopambolama, pamba te akabolaka bilei na ye na mobola.
A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Bengana motioli, bongo kowelana, koswana mpe kofingana ekosila.
Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
11 Moto oyo alingaka kozala peto na motema, oyo ngolu ezalaka na bibebu na ye, mokonzi azalaka molingami na ye.
He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Miso na Yawe ebatelaka boyebi, kasi akweyisaka maloba ya moto oyo azangi mayele.
The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ezali kuna na libanda, ekoboma ngai na kati-kati ya balabala. »
The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
14 Monoko ya mwasi ya ndumba ezalaka lokola libulu ya mozindo; moto oyo Yawe asilikeli akweyaka kuna.
A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
15 Motema ya mwana moke ezalaka na bozoba, bongo fimbu ya pamela elongolaka yango kati na ye.
When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove 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, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
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 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 thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
19 Nateyi yo yango lelo mpo ete elikya na yo ezala kati na Yawe.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
20 Boni, lobi eleki, nakomelaki yo te batoli koleka tuku misato, batoli ya bwanya mpe ya boyebi,
Have not I written for 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 rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send 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 crush the afflicted in the gate;
23 pamba te Yawe akobundela bango mpe akobebisa bomoi ya bato oyo bakobebisa bomoi na bango.
For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
24 Kozala molingami te ya moto ya kanda, mpe kosangana te na moto ya motema moto-moto,
Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
25 noki te okoyekola nzela na ye mpe okokangama na motambo na ye.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
26 Kozala te na molongo ya bato oyo batombolaka maboko mpo na kondima kofuta baniongo ya bato mosusu,
Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those 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 have 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 established.
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 that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
