Masese 25
1 Tala masese mosusu ya Salomo oyo bato ya Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, bakomaki.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, 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, but 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.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Soki olongoli mbindo na palata, ekobimisa mbeki mpo na monyangwisi bibende na moto.
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Soki olongoli moto mabe liboso ya mokonzi, kiti na ye ya bokonzi ekolendisama na bosembo.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Komikumisaka te liboso ya mokonzi, mpe komivandisaka te na esika ya bato minene;
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
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.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
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 quickly to trial. For 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 between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 noki te ayoka yango mpe ayokisa yo soni, boye okosambwa mpo na libela.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 Liloba oyo elobami na tango oyo ekoki ezali lokola wolo oyo basangisi na palata.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 Pamela ya moto ya bwanya epai ya moto oyo ayokaka ezali lokola wolo ya peto mpe sheneti ya wolo.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise 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 at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 Moto oyo amikumisaka ete akabaka, nzokande apesaka na ye eloko te, azali lokola mapata mpe mopepe oyo ezangi mvula.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 Moto oyo akangaka motema akoki kobongola makanisi ya mokonzi, mpe maloba ya malamu ebukaka mikuwa.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft 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 enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Kokendaka pamba-pamba te na ndako ya moninga na yo, noki te akotonda yo mpe akolemba yo.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you 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.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Kotia elikya na zoba na tango na pasi ezali lokola lino ebukani mpe lokolo elembi.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
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 a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 Mopepe oyo ewutaka na ngambo ya nor, ebetisaka mvula, mpe lolemo oyo etongaka ekomisaka bilongi kanda-kanda.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
24 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling 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 waters to one who is thirsty, 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.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
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; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 Moto oyo akokaka te kokonza molimo na ye azali lokola engumba oyo ebukana mpe ezanga bamir.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
