Masese 25
1 Tala masese mosusu ya Salomo oyo bato ya Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, bakomaki.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 Nzambe azwaka nkembo mpo ete asalaka makambo oyo bato bayebaka te, mpe bakonzi bazwaka nkembo mpo ete balukaka kososola tina ya makambo.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Ndenge bakokaka te komeka bosanda ya Lola to bozindo ya mabele, ndenge wana mpe bakoki te kososola mitema ya bakonzi.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Soki olongoli mbindo na palata, ekobimisa mbeki mpo na monyangwisi bibende na moto.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Soki olongoli moto mabe liboso ya mokonzi, kiti na ye ya bokonzi ekolendisama na bosembo.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Komikumisaka te liboso ya mokonzi, mpe komivandisaka te na esika ya bato minene;
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 pamba te eleki malamu ete baloba na yo: « Yaka kovanda na esika oyo ya lokumu, » na esika ete bayokisa yo soni na miso ya mokonzi.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Kowelaka te kokende kofunda epai ya basambisi makambo oyo osili komona na miso, pamba te okosala nini na suka soki moninga na yo asukisi yo?
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Soki ozali kowelana na moninga na yo, kobimisa sekele ya moto mosusu te,
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 noki te ayoka yango mpe ayokisa yo soni, boye okosambwa mpo na libela.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
11 Liloba oyo elobami na tango oyo ekoki ezali lokola wolo oyo basangisi na palata.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Pamela ya moto ya bwanya epai ya moto oyo ayokaka ezali lokola wolo ya peto mpe sheneti ya wolo.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Motindami ya sembo azalaka lokola mopepe ya malili ya mvula ya pembe na tango ya kobuka bambuma, asalaka esengo ya mokonzi na ye.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Moto oyo amikumisaka ete akabaka, nzokande apesaka na ye eloko te, azali lokola mapata mpe mopepe oyo ezangi mvula.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Moto oyo akangaka motema akoki kobongola makanisi ya mokonzi, mpe maloba ya malamu ebukaka mikuwa.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Soki omoni mafuta ya nzoyi, lia oyo ekoki na yo, pamba te soki olie yango na lokoso, okosanza yango.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Kokendaka pamba-pamba te na ndako ya moninga na yo, noki te akotonda yo mpe akolemba yo.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 Moto oyo apesaka matatoli ya lokuta mpo na kosala moninga na ye mabe azali lokola marto, mopanga mpe mbanzi ya songe.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Kotia elikya na zoba na tango na pasi ezali lokola lino ebukani mpe lokolo elembi.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Koyembela moto oyo azali na mawa banzembo ya esengo ezali lokola kolongola ye kazaka na tango ya malili to kotia masanga ya ngayi na pota.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Soki monguna na yo azali na nzala, pesa ye bilei; soki azali na posa ya mayi, pesa ye mayi ya komela.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Pamba te, soki osali bongo, okotondisa makala ya moto na likolo ya moto na ye, mpe Yawe akofuta yo.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Mopepe oyo ewutaka na ngambo ya nor, ebetisaka mvula, mpe lolemo oyo etongaka ekomisaka bilongi kanda-kanda.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Basango ya malamu oyo ewuti na mokili ya mosika ezali lokola mayi ya pio kati na motema ya moto oyo azali na posa ya mayi.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Moto ya sembo oyo asopanaka liboso ya moto mabe azali lokola liziba ya potopoto mpe etima oyo ebimisaka mayi ya mabe.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 Ezali malamu te kolia mafuta ya nzoyi ebele, mpe ezali malamu te koluka lokumu na yo moko.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 Moto oyo akokaka te kokonza molimo na ye azali lokola engumba oyo ebukana mpe ezanga bamir.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
