Masese 27
1 Komikumisa te mpo na mokolo ya lobi, pamba te oyebi te likambo nini mokolo ekoki kobota.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; 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 thine own mouth; 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 the sand weighty; but a fool’s vexation is heavier than them both.
4 Kotomboka ememaka makambo ya somo, mpe kanda ebebisaka; kasi nani akoki kotelema liboso ya zuwa?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; 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 rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 Bapota oyo molingami azokisi ezali malamu koleka babeze ebele ya monguna.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Moto oyo atondi aboyaka ata mafuta ya nzoyi, kasi moto oyo azali na nzala ayokaka ata bilei ya bololo elengi.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb: 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 from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Mafuta mpe malasi esepelisaka motema, mpe molingami malamu apesaka toli na motema ya esengo.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend [that cometh] of hearty 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.
Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother 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.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer 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.
A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself: [but] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.
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 that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a strange woman.
14 Soki moto moko ayei kopambola molingami na ye, na mongongo makasi mpe na tongo-tongo, bakozwa yango lokola elakeli mabe.
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 Mwasi oyo alinga koswana azali lokola ndako oyo etangaka na tango ya mvula.
A continual dropping in 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 restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
17 Ndenge kaka ebende epelisaka ebende mosusu, ndenge wana mpe moto abongaka soki akutani na moto mosusu.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth 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 keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his 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 in water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Ndenge lifelo mpe mboka ya bakufi etondaka te, ndenge wana mpe miso ya moto etondaka te. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and the eyes of man are 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.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is [tried] by 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 shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among bruised corn, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Yeba malamu ndenge bibwele na yo ezali, mpe kengela yango malamu,
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds:
24 pamba te bomengo ewumelaka seko na seko te, motole mpe ewumelaka te mpo na libela.
For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
25 Soki bakati matiti ya bibwele, matiti ya sika ekobota mpe bakolokota matiti ya bangomba;
The hay is carried, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 bameme ekopesa yo bilamba, mpe bantaba ekosunga yo mpo na kosomba elanga.
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field:
27 Okozala na miliki ebele ya bantaba mpo na koleisa ndako na yo mpe basali na yo ya basi.
And [there will be] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
