Masese 25
1 Tala masese mosusu ya Salomo oyo bato ya Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, bakomaki.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
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 honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor 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.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Soki olongoli mbindo na palata, ekobimisa mbeki mpo na monyangwisi bibende na moto.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
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 will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Komikumisaka te liboso ya mokonzi, mpe komivandisaka te na esika ya bato minene;
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into 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 shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] 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?
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Soki ozali kowelana na moninga na yo, kobimisa sekele ya moto mosusu te,
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of 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 thy infamy never be removed.
11 Liloba oyo elobami na tango oyo ekoki ezali lokola wolo oyo basangisi na palata.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
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 a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
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 cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
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, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
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 bones.
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 consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Kokendaka pamba-pamba te na ndako ya moninga na yo, noki te akotonda yo mpe akolemba yo.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much 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 battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a 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 and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
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 off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 Soki monguna na yo azali na nzala, pesa ye bilei; soki azali na posa ya mayi, pesa ye mayi ya komela.
If thy 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 Mopepe oyo ewutaka na ngambo ya nor, ebetisaka mvula, mpe lolemo oyo etongaka ekomisaka bilongi kanda-kanda.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
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 a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy 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 water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 Moto ya sembo oyo asopanaka liboso ya moto mabe azali lokola liziba ya potopoto mpe etima oyo ebimisaka mayi ya mabe.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Ezali malamu te kolia mafuta ya nzoyi ebele, mpe ezali malamu te koluka lokumu na yo moko.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Moto oyo akokaka te kokonza molimo na ye azali lokola engumba oyo ebukana mpe ezanga bamir.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
