Masese 26
1 Ndenge mvula ya pembe elimwaka na tango ya molunge, mpe mvula enokaka te na tango ya elanga, ndenge wana mpe lokumu oyo bapesi na zoba ekowumela na ye te.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Ndenge ndeke ya moke oyo babengaka mwano ekendaka bipai na bipai to mbilambila epumbwaka-pumbwaka, ndenge wana mpe elakeli mabe ezwaka te moto oyo asali na ye mabe te.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Ndenge fimbu ezalaka malamu mpo na mpunda, mpe ekangiseli ezalaka malamu mpo na monoko ya ane, ndenge wana mpe fimbu ezalaka malamu mpo na mokongo ya zoba.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Kozongisela zoba te kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te okokokana na ye.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Zongisela zoba kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te akomimona moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Moto oyo atindaka sango na nzela ya zoba azali lokola moto oyo amikati makolo mpe amilukeli makambo.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Ndenge makolo ya ebosono ezalaka makasi te, ndenge wana mpe masese ezalaka na nguya te kati na monoko ya zoba.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Lisese kati na monoko ya zoba ezali lokola etape ya banzube kati na loboko ya moto oyo alangwe masanga.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Moto oyo azwaka zoba to moleki nzela na mosala azali lokola soda oyo azokisaka moto nyonso na likonga.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Eleki malamu kotia elikya na zoba, na esika ete otia elikya na moto oyo amimonaka moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ekangi nzela! Nyama moko ya mabe ezali na kati-kati ya balabala! »
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Moto ya goyigoyi abalukaka na mbeto na ye ndenge ekuke ebalukaka na biloko oyo efungolaka yango.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Moto oyo ayinaka moninga na ye amibombaka na maloba na ye, kasi atondi na lokuta kati na motema na ye.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Ata soki abimisi maloba ya esengo, kondimela ye te, pamba te makambo sambo ya mbindo ebombama kati na motema na ye.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Akoki solo kobomba makanisi na ye ya mabe na maloba ya lokuta, kasi motema mabe na ye ekosuka se na koyebana na miso ya bato nyonso.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Moto oyo atimolaka libulu akweyaka ye moko kati na yango; mpe moto oyo atindikaka libanga, libanga yango ekozongela kaka ye moko.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
