Masese 23
1 Soki ovandi mpo na kolia mesa moko elongo na mokonzi, tala malamu moto oyo azali liboso na yo.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 Tia mbeli na mongongo na yo soki ozalaka lokoso.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Kolula te bilei na ye ya kitoko, pamba te, tango mosusu, ezali na yango bololo.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Koboma nzoto te mpo na koluka kozwa bomengo, kotia mayele na yo te kati na yango.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Tango okobwaka miso na ngambo ya bomengo, ekobunga, pamba te ezalaka na mapapu mpe epumbwaka na likolo makasi lokola mpongo.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Kolia te bilei ya moto oyo azali kotala yo na miso mabe mpe kolula te bilei na ye ya kitoko,
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 pamba te azalaka ndenge makanisi ya motema na ye ezali. Alobaka: « Lia mpe mela, » kasi motema na ye ezali elongo na yo te.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Okosanza eteni oyo oliaki, mpe maloba na yo ya kitoko ekokende pamba.
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Kolobaka na zoba te, pamba te akotiola bwanya ya maloba na yo.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Kozongisa te na sima mondelo ya kala mpe kokota te na bilanga ya bana bitike,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 pamba te Molobeli na bango azalaka makasi, akozwa makambo na bango na maboko mpo na kotelemela yo.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
12 Tika ete motema na yo endimaka kotosa mibeko, mpe matoyi na yo eyokaka maloba ya boyebi!
Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Kozangisa te kopesa mwana etumbu; soki obeti ye fimbu, akokufa te.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwana na ngai, soki motema na yo ezali na bwanya, motema na ngai ekozala na esengo.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 Solo, bomoto na ngai nyonso ekotonda na esengo, soki bibebu na yo elobi makambo ya sembo.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Tika ete motema na yo elulaka te bato ya masumu, kasi zalaka tango nyonso na posa makasi ya kotosa Yawe;
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 pamba te suka na yo ekozala solo malamu mpe elikya na yo ekozala ya pamba te.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Mwana na ngai, yoka mpe zala na bwanya, batela motema na yo kati na nzela ya sembo.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Kozala esika moko te na balangwi masanga to na bato ya lokoso,
Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 pamba te balangwi masanga mpe bato na lokoso bakomaka babola, mpe bogoyigoyi ekolatisa bango bilamba epasuka.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Yokela tata oyo aboti yo, mpe kotiola mama na yo te ata soki anuni.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Luka bosolo, kasi koteka yango te; sala se bongo na bwanya, na mateya mpe na mayele.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Tata ya moto ya sembo akozala na esengo mingi, mpe moto oyo abota mwana ya bwanya akosepela kati na ye.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Tika ete tata na yo mpe mama na yo basepela! Tika ete mama oyo abota yo azala na esengo!
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Mwana na ngai ya mobali, pesa ngai motema na yo, mpe tika ete miso na yo esepela na nzela na ngai!
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 Pamba te mwasi ya ndumba azali lokola libulu ya monene, mpe mwasi ya mopaya azali lokola libulu ya mozindo.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Mwasi ya ndumba atelemaka na ekenge lokola moyibi mpe akomisaka mibali bazoba koleka.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Mpo na nani: « Ah ngai, mawa! » Mpo na nani: « Eh! » Mpo na nani koswanaswana? Mpo na nani kolelalela? Mpo na nani kowelana ezanga tina? Mpo na nani kotelisa miso?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Mpo na bato oyo bawumelaka liboso ya masanga ya vino, mpo na bato oyo bamelaka masanga ya makasi.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Kotalaka te masanga ya vino tango ezali motane, tango ezali kongala kati na kopo mpe kokita na pete na mongongo.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Na suka na yango, ekoswa yo lokola nyoka mpe ekotia yo minu lokola etupa.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Miso na yo ekomona biloko na ndenge ya kokamwa, mpe motema na yo ekobimisa makambo ya bozoba.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Boye, okokoma lokola moto oyo alali kati na ebale monene, mpe lokola moto oyo alali na songe ya nzete ya molayi.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Okoloba: « Babeti ngai, kasi nazali koyoka pasi te; babeti ngai fimbu, kasi nazali koyoka eloko te! Tango nini nakolamuka? Nakozongela lisusu komela vino. »
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
