Masese 25
1 Tala masese mosusu ya Salomo oyo bato ya Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, bakomaki.
THESE are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
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 thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Ndenge bakokaka te komeka bosanda ya Lola to bozindo ya mabele, ndenge wana mpe bakoki te kososola mitema ya bakonzi.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Soki olongoli mbindo na palata, ekobimisa mbeki mpo na monyangwisi bibende na moto.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Soki olongoli moto mabe liboso ya mokonzi, kiti na ye ya bokonzi ekolendisama na bosembo.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Komikumisaka te liboso ya mokonzi, mpe komivandisaka te na esika ya bato minene;
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not 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 better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
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?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Soki ozali kowelana na moninga na yo, kobimisa sekele ya moto mosusu te,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 noki te ayoka yango mpe ayokisa yo soni, boye okosambwa mpo na libela.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not 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 pictures of silver.
12 Pamela ya moto ya bwanya epai ya moto oyo ayokaka ezali lokola wolo ya peto mpe sheneti ya wolo.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient 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.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth 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.
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 Moto oyo akangaka motema akoki kobongola makanisi ya mokonzi, mpe maloba ya malamu ebukaka mikuwa.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Soki omoni mafuta ya nzoyi, lia oyo ekoki na yo, pamba te soki olie yango na lokoso, okosanza yango.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Kokendaka pamba-pamba te na ndako ya moninga na yo, noki te akotonda yo mpe akolemba yo.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Moto oyo apesaka matatoli ya lokuta mpo na kosala moninga na ye mabe azali lokola marto, mopanga mpe mbanzi ya songe.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Kotia elikya na zoba na tango na pasi ezali lokola lino ebukani mpe lokolo elembi.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
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.
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an 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 thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be 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 thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
23 Mopepe oyo ewutaka na ngambo ya nor, ebetisaka mvula, mpe lolemo oyo etongaka ekomisaka bilongi kanda-kanda.
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
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.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Moto ya sembo oyo asopanaka liboso ya moto mabe azali lokola liziba ya potopoto mpe etima oyo ebimisaka mayi ya mabe.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 Ezali malamu te kolia mafuta ya nzoyi ebele, mpe ezali malamu te koluka lokumu na yo moko.
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 Moto oyo akokaka te kokonza molimo na ye azali lokola engumba oyo ebukana mpe ezanga bamir.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
