Masese 24
1 Kolulaka te bato oyo basalaka mabe mpe kolukaka te kozala elongo na bango,
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 pamba te mitema na bango ekanisaka kaka kosala mabe, mpe bibebu na bango eyeisaka kaka mobulu soki elobi.
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 Ndako etongamaka na nzela ya bwanya, mpe elendisamaka na nzela ya mayele.
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 Bashambre ekotondisama na biloko nyonso ya talo mpe ya kitoko na nzela ya boyebi.
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 Moto ya bwanya atondi na nguya, moto oyo azalaka na boyebi alendisaka nguya na ye.
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 Pamba te kolonga na etumba esengaka bwanya, mpe lobiko ezalaka kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Bwanya ezalaka likolo mingi mpo na zoba, yango wana azalaka te na likambo ya koloba kati na mayangani oyo esalemaka pembeni ya ekuke.
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 Moto oyo asalaka mabongisi ya kosala mabe akokende sango lokola moteki baninga.
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 Mabongisi ya bozoba ezali masumu, mpe bato bayinaka motioli.
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 Soki omilembisi na mokolo ya pasi, makasi na yo ekozala pamba.
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Kangola bato oyo bazali komema bango na kufa, mpe bikisa bato oyo bazali kokende na kufa lokola bato oyo balangwe masanga.
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
12 Soki olobi: « Tala, toyebaki likambo moko te kati na makambo oyo nyonso; » boni, Ye oyo amekaka mitema asosolaka yango te? Ye oyo abatelaka molimo na yo ayebaka yango te? Afutaka te moto na moto kolanda misala na ye?
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13 Mwana na ngai, lia mafuta ya nzoyi, pamba te ezalaka kitoko! Mwa ndambo ya mafuta ya nzoyi ekozala elengi na lolemo na yo.
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14 Yeba lisusu ete bwanya ezali elengi mpo na molimo na yo; soki ozwi yango, yeba ete lobi na yo ekozala malamu, mpe elikya na yo ekozala ya pamba te.
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Yo moto mabe, komeka te kotia mitambo kati na ndako ya moto ya sembo, mpe komeka te kopanza yango,
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 pamba te ata soki moto ya sembo akweyi mbala sambo, akotelema kaka; nzokande pasi ekweyisaka moto mabe.
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 Soki monguna na yo akweyi, kosepela te; mpe soki apengwi, tika ete motema na yo esepela te;
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 noki te Yawe akomona, akosepela te mpe akokitisela yo kanda na Ye.
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Kosilika te likolo ya bato oyo basalaka mabe, kolula te bato mabe;
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 pamba te lobi ya malamu ekozala te mpo na moto oyo asalaka mabe, mpe mwinda ya bato mabe ekokufa.
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21 Mwana na ngai, tosaka Yawe mpe mokonzi, kosanganaka te na batomboki,
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 pamba te bango mibale bakoki kotindela batomboki pasi na pwasa. Bongo, nani ayebi pasi oyo bakoki kotinda?
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 Makambo oyo mpe ezali toli ya bato ya bwanya: Kopona bilongi, kati na kosambisa, ezali malamu te.
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 Moto oyo alobaka na moto mabe: « Ozali moto ya sembo, » bato bakolakela ye mabe, mpe bikolo ekotombokela ye.
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 Kasi bato oyo bapamelaka moto mabe bakozala malamu mpe lipamboli ekozala likolo na bango.
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Eyano ya solo ezali lokola beze ya bibebu.
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Bongisa libanda ya mosala na yo, bongisa bilanga na yo, bongo na sima, tonga ndako na yo.
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Kotatola na pamba te mpo na kosala moninga na yo mabe; mpo na nini olingi kosalela bibebu na yo na lokuta?
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 Kolobaka te: « Nakosala ye ndenge asali ngai, nakozongisela ye kolanda makambo oyo ye asali. »
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30 Nalekaki pembeni ya elanga ya moto ya goyigoyi, mpe pembeni ya elanga ya vino ya moto oyo azangi mayele;
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 bongo, tala ndenge etondi na banzube, tala ndenge matiti mabe ezipi yango, mpe mir na yango ya mabanga ebukani.
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Tango natiaki makanisi na ngai kati na makambo oyo namonaki, nazwaki mayele oyo:
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 mwa pongi moke, mwa kopema moke, mwa kokanga maboko moke mpo na kolala,
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 bobola ekoyela yo na pwasa lokola moleki nzela, mpe pasi ekoyela yo lokola moyibi.
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
