Masese 25
1 Tala masese mosusu ya Salomo oyo bato ya Ezekiasi, mokonzi ya Yuda, bakomaki.
These also are 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 glory 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 the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Soki olongoli mbindo na palata, ekobimisa mbeki mpo na monyangwisi bibende na moto.
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Soki olongoli moto mabe liboso ya mokonzi, kiti na ye ya bokonzi ekolendisama na bosembo.
Take away 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;
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among 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 it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your 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?
Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Soki ozali kowelana na moninga na yo, kobimisa sekele ya moto mosusu te,
Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10 noki te ayoka yango mpe ayokisa yo soni, boye okosambwa mpo na libela.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
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.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to 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 those who send him; for 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.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 Moto oyo akangaka motema akoki kobongola makanisi ya mokonzi, mpe maloba ya malamu ebukaka mikuwa.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Soki omoni mafuta ya nzoyi, lia oyo ekoki na yo, pamba te soki olie yango na lokoso, okosanza yango.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Kokendaka pamba-pamba te na ndako ya moninga na yo, noki te akotonda yo mpe akolemba yo.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary 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 gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Kotia elikya na zoba na tango na pasi ezali lokola lino ebukani mpe lokolo elembi.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
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 one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so 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. 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 heap coals of fire 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.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
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 to share a house with a contentious woman.
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 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.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before 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 much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Moto oyo akokaka te kokonza molimo na ye azali lokola engumba oyo ebukana mpe ezanga bamir.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
