Masese 27
1 Komikumisa te mpo na mokolo ya lobi, pamba te oyebi te likambo nini mokolo ekoki kobota.
Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Tika ete moto mosusu akumisa yo, kasi monoko na yo moko te; tika ete mopaya akumisa yo, kasi bibebu na yo moko te.
Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 Libanga mpe zelo ezalaka kilo, kasi kanda ya zoba ezalaka kilo koleka nyonso mibale.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Kotomboka ememaka makambo ya somo, mpe kanda ebebisaka; kasi nani akoki kotelema liboso ya zuwa?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Pamela oyo epesami na polele ezali malamu koleka moto oyo aboyi kopamela mpo na bolingo.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Bapota oyo molingami azokisi ezali malamu koleka babeze ebele ya monguna.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 Moto oyo atondi aboyaka ata mafuta ya nzoyi, kasi moto oyo azali na nzala ayokaka ata bilei ya bololo elengi.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Moto oyo ayengaka-yengaka mosika ya mokili na ye azali lokola ndeke oyo ezali koyengayenga mosika ya zala na yango.
As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
9 Mafuta mpe malasi esepelisaka motema, mpe molingami malamu apesaka toli na motema ya esengo.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Kosundola te molingami na yo to molingami ya tata na yo, mpe kokende te na ndako ya ndeko na yo tango ozali na pasi; kozala na molingami ya pembeni ezali malamu koleka kozala na ndeko ya mosika.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Mwana na ngai, zala moto ya bwanya mpe sepelisa motema na ngai, mpo ete nazala na eyano ya kopesa na moto oyo akoluka kotiola ngai.
Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
12 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele alekaka kaka wana mpe akutanaka na pasi.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Kamata elamba ya moto oyo alapi ndayi mpo na niongo ya moto mosusu; bomba yango lokola ndanga soki alapi ndayi mpo na mwasi mopaya.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Soki moto moko ayei kopambola molingami na ye, na mongongo makasi mpe na tongo-tongo, bakozwa yango lokola elakeli mabe.
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 Mwasi oyo alinga koswana azali lokola ndako oyo etangaka na tango ya mvula.
On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
16 Kokanga ye ezali lokola koluka kokanga mopepe to mafuta na loboko.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Ndenge kaka ebende epelisaka ebende mosusu, ndenge wana mpe moto abongaka soki akutani na moto mosusu.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Moto oyo abongisaka nzete na ye ya figi aliaka mpe mbuma na yango, mpe moto oyo abatelaka mokonzi azwaka lokumu.
He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Ndenge mayi ezalaka lokola kitalatala mpo na elongi, ndenge wana mpe motema ya moto elakisaka bomoto na ye moko.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 Ndenge lifelo mpe mboka ya bakufi etondaka te, ndenge wana mpe miso ya moto etondaka te. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
21 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi bamekaka moto na nzela ya lokumu na ye.
Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Ata soki otuti moto ya liboma na liboka elongo na mbuma, liboma na ye ekotikala te kolongwa kati na ye.
Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Yeba malamu ndenge bibwele na yo ezali, mpe kengela yango malamu,
Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
24 pamba te bomengo ewumelaka seko na seko te, motole mpe ewumelaka te mpo na libela.
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Soki bakati matiti ya bibwele, matiti ya sika ekobota mpe bakolokota matiti ya bangomba;
Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 bameme ekopesa yo bilamba, mpe bantaba ekosunga yo mpo na kosomba elanga.
that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
27 Okozala na miliki ebele ya bantaba mpo na koleisa ndako na yo mpe basali na yo ya basi.
[My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
