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.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] for 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.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
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.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Kozongisela zoba te kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te okokokana na ye.
Answer not a fool 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.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Moto oyo atindaka sango na nzela ya zoba azali lokola moto oyo amikati makolo mpe amilukeli makambo.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Ndenge makolo ya ebosono ezalaka makasi te, ndenge wana mpe masese ezalaka na nguya te kati na monoko ya zoba.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Lisese kati na monoko ya zoba ezali lokola etape ya banzube kati na loboko ya moto oyo alangwe masanga.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Moto oyo azwaka zoba to moleki nzela na mosala azali lokola soda oyo azokisaka moto nyonso na likonga.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Eleki malamu kotia elikya na zoba, na esika ete otia elikya na moto oyo amimonaka moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ekangi nzela! Nyama moko ya mabe ezali na kati-kati ya balabala! »
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Moto ya goyigoyi abalukaka na mbeto na ye ndenge ekuke ebalukaka na biloko oyo efungolaka yango.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Moto oyo ayinaka moninga na ye amibombaka na maloba na ye, kasi atondi na lokuta kati na motema na ye.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Ata soki abimisi maloba ya esengo, kondimela ye te, pamba te makambo sambo ya mbindo ebombama kati na motema na ye.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations 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.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Moto oyo atimolaka libulu akweyaka ye moko kati na yango; mpe moto oyo atindikaka libanga, libanga yango ekozongela kaka ye moko.
He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
