Masese 27
1 Komikumisa te mpo na mokolo ya lobi, pamba te oyebi te likambo nini mokolo ekoki kobota.
Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may 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 another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3 Libanga mpe zelo ezalaka kilo, kasi kanda ya zoba ezalaka kilo koleka nyonso mibale.
A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
4 Kotomboka ememaka makambo ya somo, mpe kanda ebebisaka; kasi nani akoki kotelema liboso ya zuwa?
Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Pamela oyo epesami na polele ezali malamu koleka moto oyo aboyi kopamela mpo na bolingo.
Better is open reproof than concealed love.
6 Bapota oyo molingami azokisi ezali malamu koleka babeze ebele ya monguna.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the 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.
The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Moto oyo ayengaka-yengaka mosika ya mokili na ye azali lokola ndeke oyo ezali koyengayenga mosika ya zala na yango.
As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
9 Mafuta mpe malasi esepelisaka motema, mpe molingami malamu apesaka toli na motema ya esengo.
Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
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.
Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
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.
Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 Moto ya mayele amonaka likama na mosika mpe amibombaka, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele alekaka kaka wana mpe akutanaka na pasi.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are 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 his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
14 Soki moto moko ayei kopambola molingami na ye, na mongongo makasi mpe na tongo-tongo, bakozwa yango lokola elakeli mabe.
When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
15 Mwasi oyo alinga koswana azali lokola ndako oyo etangaka na tango ya mvula.
A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Kokanga ye ezali lokola koluka kokanga mopepe to mafuta na loboko.
He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
17 Ndenge kaka ebende epelisaka ebende mosusu, ndenge wana mpe moto abongaka soki akutani na moto mosusu.
Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
18 Moto oyo abongisaka nzete na ye ya figi aliaka mpe mbuma na yango, mpe moto oyo abatelaka mokonzi azwaka lokumu.
Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
19 Ndenge mayi ezalaka lokola kitalatala mpo na elongi, ndenge wana mpe motema ya moto elakisaka bomoto na ye moko.
As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
20 Ndenge lifelo mpe mboka ya bakufi etondaka te, ndenge wana mpe miso ya moto etondaka te. (Sheol h7585)
The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Bapetolaka palata na kikalungu, mpe bapetolaka wolo na fulu ya moto makasi, kasi bamekaka moto na nzela ya lokumu na ye.
[As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
22 Ata soki otuti moto ya liboma na liboka elongo na mbuma, liboma na ye ekotikala te kolongwa kati na ye.
Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
23 Yeba malamu ndenge bibwele na yo ezali, mpe kengela yango malamu,
Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
24 pamba te bomengo ewumelaka seko na seko te, motole mpe ewumelaka te mpo na libela.
For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
25 Soki bakati matiti ya bibwele, matiti ya sika ekobota mpe bakolokota matiti ya bangomba;
When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
26 bameme ekopesa yo bilamba, mpe bantaba ekosunga yo mpo na kosomba elanga.
The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
27 Okozala na miliki ebele ya bantaba mpo na koleisa ndako na yo mpe basali na yo ya basi.
And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
