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 or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
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 the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
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 the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Zongisela zoba kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te akomimona moto ya bwanya na miso na ye moko.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Moto oyo atindaka sango na nzela ya zoba azali lokola moto oyo amikati makolo mpe amilukeli makambo.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Ndenge makolo ya ebosono ezalaka makasi te, ndenge wana mpe masese ezalaka na nguya te kati na monoko ya zoba.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving 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 goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Moto oyo azwaka zoba to moleki nzela na mosala azali lokola soda oyo azokisaka moto nyonso na likonga.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who 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 someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 Moto ya goyigoyi abalukaka na mbeto na ye ndenge ekuke ebalukaka na biloko oyo efungolaka yango.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person 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 delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Moto oyo ayinaka moninga na ye amibombaka na maloba na ye, kasi atondi na lokuta kati na motema na ye.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Ata soki abimisi maloba ya esengo, kondimela ye te, pamba te makambo sambo ya mbindo ebombama kati na motema na ye.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, 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.
Though his hatred is covered with 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.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
