Masese 24
1 Kolulaka te bato oyo basalaka mabe mpe kolukaka te kozala elongo na bango,
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long 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 meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Ndako etongamaka na nzela ya bwanya, mpe elendisamaka na nzela ya mayele.
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 Bashambre ekotondisama na biloko nyonso ya talo mpe ya kitoko na nzela ya boyebi.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Moto ya bwanya atondi na nguya, moto oyo azalaka na boyebi alendisaka nguya na ye.
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 Pamba te kolonga na etumba esengaka bwanya, mpe lobiko ezalaka kati na motango ebele ya bapesi toli.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
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 can he not open his mouth.
8 Moto oyo asalaka mabongisi ya kosala mabe akokende sango lokola moteki baninga.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 Mabongisi ya bozoba ezali masumu, mpe bato bayinaka motioli.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Soki omilembisi na mokolo ya pasi, makasi na yo ekozala pamba.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Kangola bato oyo bazali komema bango na kufa, mpe bikisa bato oyo bazali kokende na kufa lokola bato oyo balangwe masanga.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 Mwana na ngai, lia mafuta ya nzoyi, pamba te ezalaka kitoko! Mwa ndambo ya mafuta ya nzoyi ekozala elengi na lolemo na yo.
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
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 obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Yo moto mabe, komeka te kotia mitambo kati na ndako ya moto ya sembo, mpe komeka te kopanza yango,
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 pamba te ata soki moto ya sembo akweyi mbala sambo, akotelema kaka; nzokande pasi ekweyisaka moto mabe.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Soki monguna na yo akweyi, kosepela te; mpe soki apengwi, tika ete motema na yo esepela te;
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 noki te Yawe akomona, akosepela te mpe akokitisela yo kanda na Ye.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Kosilika te likolo ya bato oyo basalaka mabe, kolula te bato mabe;
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 pamba te lobi ya malamu ekozala te mpo na moto oyo asalaka mabe, mpe mwinda ya bato mabe ekokufa.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Mwana na ngai, tosaka Yawe mpe mokonzi, kosanganaka te na batomboki,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 pamba te bango mibale bakoki kotindela batomboki pasi na pwasa. Bongo, nani ayebi pasi oyo bakoki kotinda?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 Makambo oyo mpe ezali toli ya bato ya bwanya: Kopona bilongi, kati na kosambisa, ezali malamu te.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Moto oyo alobaka na moto mabe: « Ozali moto ya sembo, » bato bakolakela ye mabe, mpe bikolo ekotombokela ye.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 Kasi bato oyo bapamelaka moto mabe bakozala malamu mpe lipamboli ekozala likolo na bango.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Eyano ya solo ezali lokola beze ya bibebu.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Bongisa libanda ya mosala na yo, bongisa bilanga na yo, bongo na sima, tonga ndako na yo.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward 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 without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Kolobaka te: « Nakosala ye ndenge asali ngai, nakozongisela ye kolanda makambo oyo ye asali. »
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Nalekaki pembeni ya elanga ya moto ya goyigoyi, mpe pembeni ya elanga ya vino ya moto oyo azangi mayele;
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 bongo, tala ndenge etondi na banzube, tala ndenge matiti mabe ezipi yango, mpe mir na yango ya mabanga ebukani.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Tango natiaki makanisi na ngai kati na makambo oyo namonaki, nazwaki mayele oyo:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 mwa pongi moke, mwa kopema moke, mwa kokanga maboko moke mpo na kolala,
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 bobola ekoyela yo na pwasa lokola moleki nzela, mpe pasi ekoyela yo lokola moyibi.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
