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 as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting 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.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t 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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Kozongisela zoba te kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te okokokana na ye.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Moto oyo atindaka sango na nzela ya zoba azali lokola moto oyo amikati makolo mpe amilukeli makambo.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking 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 the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives 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 bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Moto oyo azwaka zoba to moleki nzela na mosala azali lokola soda oyo azokisaka moto nyonso na likonga.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
As a dog that returns to his 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 a man 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
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 does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Moto oyo ayinaka moninga na ye amibombaka na maloba na ye, kasi atondi na lokuta kati na motema na ye.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil 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 his speech is charming, don’t 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.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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 shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
