Masese 24
1 Kolulaka te bato oyo basalaka mabe mpe kolukaka te kozala elongo na bango,
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 pamba te mitema na bango ekanisaka kaka kosala mabe, mpe bibebu na bango eyeisaka kaka mobulu soki elobi.
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 Ndako etongamaka na nzela ya bwanya, mpe elendisamaka na nzela ya mayele.
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 Bashambre ekotondisama na biloko nyonso ya talo mpe ya kitoko na nzela ya boyebi.
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 Moto ya bwanya atondi na nguya, moto oyo azalaka na boyebi alendisaka nguya na ye.
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 Pamba te kolonga na etumba esengaka bwanya, mpe lobiko ezalaka kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety 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 too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 Moto oyo asalaka mabongisi ya kosala mabe akokende sango lokola moteki baninga.
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 Mabongisi ya bozoba ezali masumu, mpe bato bayinaka motioli.
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 Soki omilembisi na mokolo ya pasi, makasi na yo ekozala pamba.
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Kangola bato oyo bazali komema bango na kufa, mpe bikisa bato oyo bazali kokende na kufa lokola bato oyo balangwe masanga.
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
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 thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to 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.
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy 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 also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Yo moto mabe, komeka te kotia mitambo kati na ndako ya moto ya sembo, mpe komeka te kopanza yango,
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness 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 a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Soki monguna na yo akweyi, kosepela te; mpe soki apengwi, tika ete motema na yo esepela te;
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 noki te Yawe akomona, akosepela te mpe akokitisela yo kanda na Ye.
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Kosilika te likolo ya bato oyo basalaka mabe, kolula te bato mabe;
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 pamba te lobi ya malamu ekozala te mpo na moto oyo asalaka mabe, mpe mwinda ya bato mabe ekokufa.
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwana na ngai, tosaka Yawe mpe mokonzi, kosanganaka te na batomboki,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 pamba te bango mibale bakoki kotindela batomboki pasi na pwasa. Bongo, nani ayebi pasi oyo bakoki kotinda?
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 Makambo oyo mpe ezali toli ya bato ya bwanya: Kopona bilongi, kati na kosambisa, ezali malamu te.
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 Moto oyo alobaka na moto mabe: « Ozali moto ya sembo, » bato bakolakela ye mabe, mpe bikolo ekotombokela ye.
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 Kasi bato oyo bapamelaka moto mabe bakozala malamu mpe lipamboli ekozala likolo na bango.
They that rebuke him, 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 answereth right words.
27 Bongisa libanda ya mosala na yo, bongisa bilanga na yo, bongo na sima, tonga ndako na yo.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Kotatola na pamba te mpo na kosala moninga na yo mabe; mpo na nini olingi kosalela bibebu na yo na lokuta?
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 Kolobaka te: « Nakosala ye ndenge asali ngai, nakozongisela ye kolanda makambo oyo ye asali. »
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every 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 the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the 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 all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Tango natiaki makanisi na ngai kati na makambo oyo namonaki, nazwaki mayele oyo:
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 mwa pongi moke, mwa kopema moke, mwa kokanga maboko moke mpo na kolala,
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 bobola ekoyela yo na pwasa lokola moleki nzela, mpe pasi ekoyela yo lokola moyibi.
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
