< Masese 22 >
1 Kokende sango ya malamu ezali malamu koleka kozala na bomengo mingi; lokumu ezali malamu koleka palata mpe wolo.
(Having a good reputation/Being honored by people) is better than having a lot of money; being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].
2 Mozwi mpe mobola bazali na likambo moko ya lisanga: ezali Yawe nde azali Mokeli na bango mibale.
There is one thing that is true about both rich people and poor people: Yahweh is the one who created all of them.
3 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele akoleka wana mpe akokutana na pasi.
Those who have good sense realize [that there is something] dangerous ahead, and they avoid it; those who do not have good sense just keep going and later they will suffer because of doing that.
4 Komikitisa mpe kotosa Yawe ememaka bozwi, lokumu mpe bomoi.
The reward that Yahweh gives to those who are humble and who revere him is that he causes them to be rich and honored and to live for a long time.
5 Nzela ya bato mabe ezalaka na banzube mpe mitambo, kasi moto oyo abatelaka molimo na ye azalaka mosika na yango.
Because of the things that wicked people do, [they have difficulties/troubles] that will be like thorns and traps on the roads that they walk on [MET]; people who are careful/cautious will be able to stay away from those difficulties.
6 Lakisa mwana nzela oyo asengeli kotambola wuta na bomwana na ye; ezala tango akokoma mokolo, akobunga yango te.
If you train/teach children to do what is right, all during their life they will act/behave in that manner.
7 Mozwi azalaka mokonzi ya mobola, mpe modefi azalaka mowumbu ya modefisi.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly, and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend [money to them].
8 Moto oyo alonaka masumu abukaka pasi, mpe makasi ya kanda na ye nyonso ekosuka.
[If you plant corn or rice, corn or rice will grow]; [similarly], if you act unjustly, you will have disasters [MET]; and if you try to harm/oppress people [because you are angry with them], you will not be able to harm them.
9 Moto oyo akabaka na esengo akopambolama, pamba te akabolaka bilei na ye na mobola.
[God] will bless those who are generous [IDM], those who give some of their food to poor [people].
10 Bengana motioli, bongo kowelana, koswana mpe kofingana ekosila.
If you get rid of those who make fun of [everything that is good], there will no more arguing or quarreling or insulting [other people].
11 Moto oyo alingaka kozala peto na motema, oyo ngolu ezalaka na bibebu na ye, mokonzi azalaka molingami na ye.
If you always act sincerely [IDM] and always speak kindly, the king will be your friend.
12 Miso na Yawe ebatelaka boyebi, kasi akweyisaka maloba ya moto oyo azangi mayele.
Yahweh [SYN] (watches over/takes care of) [those who have] good understanding/sense, but he ruins the plans/affairs of those who always try to deceive others.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ezali kuna na libanda, ekoboma ngai na kati-kati ya balabala. »
Lazy people [remain in their houses]; they say, “A lion might attack me if I go out into the street [to go to work]!”
14 Monoko ya mwasi ya ndumba ezalaka lokola libulu ya mozindo; moto oyo Yawe asilikeli akweyaka kuna.
What (wives who commit adultery/immoral women) say [to men] [MTY] is [like] a deep pit [MET] [into which those men fall]; those with whom Yahweh is angry will fall into that pit.
15 Motema ya mwana moke ezalaka na bozoba, bongo fimbu ya pamela elongolaka yango kati na ye.
Children [SYN] naturally do things that are foolish, but if you punish/spank them [PRS], they [will] (stop doing foolish things/learn to behave as they should).
16 Moto oyo anyokolaka mobola mpo ete akoma na bomengo mingi mpe oyo apesaka mozwi bakado bakokweya na bobola.
Those who oppress poor [people] in order to become rich, and those who give [a bribe] to rich [people in order that the rich people will do a favor for them], will just lose their money.
17 Pesa matoyi mpe yoka toli ya bato ya bwanya, mpe tika ete motema na yo endima mateya na ngai.
[Now] listen [MTY] to what wise [people] have said; think carefully about what I am teaching you.
18 Pamba te ekozala esengo soki obombi yango na motema na yo, mpe soki yango nyonso ezali pene ya bibebu na yo.
It will be good to (keep these things in your minds/always remember them), because if you do that, you will be able to quote/recite them [to others].
19 Nateyi yo yango lelo mpo ete elikya na yo ezala kati na Yawe.
[I want you to] trust in Yahweh, and that is the reason that I am telling them to you, now.
20 Boni, lobi eleki, nakomelaki yo te batoli koleka tuku misato, batoli ya bwanya mpe ya boyebi,
I have written [RHQ] 30 (sayings/things that wise people have said) from which you will receive good advice and you will be able you to know [many good/useful things].
21 batoli oyo epesaka mateya ya solo mpe maloba ya solo mpo ete okoka kozongisa biyano ya solo na moto oyo atindi yo?
From them, you will learn what is right and what is true, in order that you will be able to bring back a good report to those who sent you [to school] (OR, give a good answer [to those who ask you questions]).
22 Kobotola te na makasi biloko ya mobola, pamba te azali mobola, konyokola te moto ya pasi na esambiselo,
[It is easy to] rob poor [people] who are helpless [and cannot defend themselves, but] never [do that]; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
23 pamba te Yawe akobundela bango mpe akobebisa bomoi ya bato oyo bakobebisa bomoi na bango.
because Yahweh will speak to defend them, and he will punish those who steal things from others—by causing them to die.
24 Kozala molingami te ya moto ya kanda, mpe kosangana te na moto ya motema moto-moto,
Do not become friends with those who often become angry, and do not associate with those who cannot control their temper/anger,
25 noki te okoyekola nzela na ye mpe okokangama na motambo na ye.
because you might start to act like they do and not be able to stop doing that.
26 Kozala te na molongo ya bato oyo batombolaka maboko mpo na kondima kofuta baniongo ya bato mosusu,
If someone borrows money, do not be one of those who promises to pay what that person owes he cannot pay it back,
27 pamba te soki ozali na yo na makoki ya kofuta te, mpo na nini okolinga ete babotola ata mbeto na yo ya kolala?
because if you cannot pay it back, people will surely [RHQ] [come and] take away [everything you own], even your bed.
28 Kozongisa na sima te mondelo ya kala oyo batata na yo bakataki.
Do not [steal some of your neighbors’ land by] removing the boundary lines/markers that your ancestors placed/set.
29 Osila komona moto oyo ayebi mosala na ye malamu? Akosala kaka liboso ya bakonzi, akosala te liboso ya bato ya molili.
Know/Learn [RHQ] this about those who do their work very skillfully: They will quit working for ordinary people and will start working for kings [because the kings will want people like that to work for them].