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.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
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 bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
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 is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Kozongisela zoba te kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te okokokana na ye.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Zongisela zoba kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te akomimona moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Moto oyo atindaka sango na nzela ya zoba azali lokola moto oyo amikati makolo mpe amilukeli makambo.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Ndenge makolo ya ebosono ezalaka makasi te, ndenge wana mpe masese ezalaka na nguya te kati na monoko ya zoba.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 Lisese kati na monoko ya zoba ezali lokola etape ya banzube kati na loboko ya moto oyo alangwe masanga.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Moto oyo azwaka zoba to moleki nzela na mosala azali lokola soda oyo azokisaka moto nyonso na likonga.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Eleki malamu kotia elikya na zoba, na esika ete otia elikya na moto oyo amimonaka moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ekangi nzela! Nyama moko ya mabe ezali na kati-kati ya balabala! »
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 Moto ya goyigoyi abalukaka na mbeto na ye ndenge ekuke ebalukaka na biloko oyo efungolaka yango.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 Moto oyo ayinaka moninga na ye amibombaka na maloba na ye, kasi atondi na lokuta kati na motema na ye.
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Ata soki abimisi maloba ya esengo, kondimela ye te, pamba te makambo sambo ya mbindo ebombama kati na motema na ye.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in 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.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
