Masese 27
1 Komikumisa te mpo na mokolo ya lobi, pamba te oyebi te likambo nini mokolo ekoki kobota.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
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 you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Libanga mpe zelo ezalaka kilo, kasi kanda ya zoba ezalaka kilo koleka nyonso mibale.
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Kotomboka ememaka makambo ya somo, mpe kanda ebebisaka; kasi nani akoki kotelema liboso ya zuwa?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; 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 hidden love.
6 Bapota oyo molingami azokisi ezali malamu koleka babeze ebele ya monguna.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although 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.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a 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 wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Mafuta mpe malasi esepelisaka motema, mpe molingami malamu apesaka toli na motema ya esengo.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
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.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better 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.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
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 sees danger and takes refuge; 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 when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 Soki moto moko ayei kopambola molingami na ye, na mongongo makasi mpe na tongo-tongo, bakozwa yango lokola elakeli mabe.
He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 Mwasi oyo alinga koswana azali lokola ndako oyo etangaka na tango ya mvula.
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 Kokanga ye ezali lokola koluka kokanga mopepe to mafuta na loboko.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Ndenge kaka ebende epelisaka ebende mosusu, ndenge wana mpe moto abongaka soki akutani na moto mosusu.
Iron sharpens iron; so 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.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after 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.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the 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 a man’s eyes 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 crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined 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 you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Yeba malamu ndenge bibwele na yo ezali, mpe kengela yango malamu,
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 pamba te bomengo ewumelaka seko na seko te, motole mpe ewumelaka te mpo na libela.
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 Soki bakati matiti ya bibwele, matiti ya sika ekobota mpe bakolokota matiti ya bangomba;
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 bameme ekopesa yo bilamba, mpe bantaba ekosunga yo mpo na kosomba elanga.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 Okozala na miliki ebele ya bantaba mpo na koleisa ndako na yo mpe basali na yo ya basi.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
