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 snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely 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 a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
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, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Kozongisela zoba te kolanda bozoba na ye, noki te okokokana na ye.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things 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.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kopesa zoba lokumu ezali lokola kotia libanga na ebambelo mabanga.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Lisese kati na monoko ya zoba ezali lokola etape ya banzube kati na loboko ya moto oyo alangwe masanga.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And 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.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Ndenge kaka mbwa ezongelaka kolia biloko oyo yango moko esanzi, ndenge wana mpe zoba azongelaka bozoba na ye.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating 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.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Moto ya goyigoyi alobaka: « Nkosi ekangi nzela! Nyama moko ya mabe ezali na kati-kati ya balabala! »
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 Moto ya goyigoyi abalukaka na mbeto na ye ndenge ekuke ebalukaka na biloko oyo efungolaka yango.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Moto ya goyigoyi akotisaka loboko na ye kati na bilei, kasi akokaka te kozongisa yango na monoko.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Moto ya goyigoyi amimonaka ete azali na bwanya koleka bato sambo ya mayele.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Moto oyo akotaka makambo oyo etali ye te azali lokola moto oyo akangi mbwa na matoyi.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Ndenge moto ya liboma abwakaka moto, makonga mpe kufa,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 ndenge wana mpe moto oyo akosi moninga na ye alobaka: « Ezalaki kaka mpo na kosala maseki! »
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Soki bakoni ezali te, moto ekokufa; soki bato ya songisongi bazali te, koswana ekokita.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Ndenge makala engalaka na mbabola, mpe bakoni epelisaka moto, ndenge wana mpe moto oyo alinga koswana ayeisaka matata.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Maloba ya moto ya songisongi ezalaka lokola bilei ya kitoko, ekitaka na esengo kino na libumu.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Maloba ya sukali ya moto ya motema mabe ezalaka lokola palata ya mbindo oyo bapakoli na mbeki basala na mabele.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [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.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Ata soki abimisi maloba ya esengo, kondimela ye te, pamba te makambo sambo ya mbindo ebombama kati na motema na ye.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] 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.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Moto oyo atimolaka libulu akweyaka ye moko kati na yango; mpe moto oyo atindikaka libanga, libanga yango ekozongela kaka ye moko.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Lolemo ya lokuta eyinaka bato oyo ezokisi, mpe maloba ya sukali ememaka libebi.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
