Masese 24
1 Kolulaka te bato oyo basalaka mabe mpe kolukaka te kozala elongo na bango,
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 pamba te mitema na bango ekanisaka kaka kosala mabe, mpe bibebu na bango eyeisaka kaka mobulu soki elobi.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Ndako etongamaka na nzela ya bwanya, mpe elendisamaka na nzela ya mayele.
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 Bashambre ekotondisama na biloko nyonso ya talo mpe ya kitoko na nzela ya boyebi.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 Moto ya bwanya atondi na nguya, moto oyo azalaka na boyebi alendisaka nguya na ye.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 Pamba te kolonga na etumba esengaka bwanya, mpe lobiko ezalaka kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
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 and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Moto oyo asalaka mabongisi ya kosala mabe akokende sango lokola moteki baninga.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 Mabongisi ya bozoba ezali masumu, mpe bato bayinaka motioli.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 Soki omilembisi na mokolo ya pasi, makasi na yo ekozala pamba.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
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 away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
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?
But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every 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, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
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.
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Yo moto mabe, komeka te kotia mitambo kati na ndako ya moto ya sembo, mpe komeka te kopanza yango,
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 pamba te ata soki moto ya sembo akweyi mbala sambo, akotelema kaka; nzokande pasi ekweyisaka moto mabe.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Soki monguna na yo akweyi, kosepela te; mpe soki apengwi, tika ete motema na yo esepela te;
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 noki te Yawe akomona, akosepela te mpe akokitisela yo kanda na Ye.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Kosilika te likolo ya bato oyo basalaka mabe, kolula te bato mabe;
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 pamba te lobi ya malamu ekozala te mpo na moto oyo asalaka mabe, mpe mwinda ya bato mabe ekokufa.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwana na ngai, tosaka Yawe mpe mokonzi, kosanganaka te na batomboki,
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 pamba te bango mibale bakoki kotindela batomboki pasi na pwasa. Bongo, nani ayebi pasi oyo bakoki kotinda?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 Makambo oyo mpe ezali toli ya bato ya bwanya: Kopona bilongi, kati na kosambisa, ezali malamu te.
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Moto oyo alobaka na moto mabe: « Ozali moto ya sembo, » bato bakolakela ye mabe, mpe bikolo ekotombokela ye.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 Kasi bato oyo bapamelaka moto mabe bakozala malamu mpe lipamboli ekozala likolo na bango.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Eyano ya solo ezali lokola beze ya bibebu.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Bongisa libanda ya mosala na yo, bongisa bilanga na yo, bongo na sima, tonga ndako na yo.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your 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 a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Kolobaka te: « Nakosala ye ndenge asali ngai, nakozongisela ye kolanda makambo oyo ye asali. »
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 Nalekaki pembeni ya elanga ya moto ya goyigoyi, mpe pembeni ya elanga ya vino ya moto oyo azangi mayele;
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 bongo, tala ndenge etondi na banzube, tala ndenge matiti mabe ezipi yango, mpe mir na yango ya mabanga ebukani.
If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Tango natiaki makanisi na ngai kati na makambo oyo namonaki, nazwaki mayele oyo:
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 mwa pongi moke, mwa kopema moke, mwa kokanga maboko moke mpo na kolala,
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 bobola ekoyela yo na pwasa lokola moleki nzela, mpe pasi ekoyela yo lokola moyibi.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
