Masese 28
1 Moto mabe akimaka ata soki moto moko te abengani ye, kasi bato ya sembo bazalaka na mpiko lokola nkosi.
The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion.
2 Soki kotomboka ezali kati na mokili, bakonzi bakomaka ebele; kasi moto ya mayele mpe ya bososoli ayeisaka kimia.
By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.
3 Mokonzi oyo anyokolaka bato bakelela azali lokola mvula ya makasi oyo ebebisaka biloko mpe ememaka nzala.
A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain,
4 Bato oyo babukaka mibeko bakumisaka bato mabe, kasi bato oyo babatelaka mibeko batelemelaka bato mabe.
so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.
5 Bato mabe basosolaka te makambo ya bosembo, kasi bato oyo balukaka Yawe basosolaka yango nyonso.
Evil men will not understand judgement: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.
6 Mobola oyo atambolaka na bosembo azali malamu koleka mozwi oyo nzela na ye ezali mabe.
A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar.
7 Moto oyo abatelaka mibeko azali mwana mayele, kasi moto oyo atambolaka na bato ya loyenge ayokisaka tata na ye soni.
A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours his father.
8 Moto oyo abakisaka bomengo na ye na nzela ya moyibi abombelaka yango moto oyo asalisaka babola.
He that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor.
9 Moto oyo akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka mobeko, libondeli na ye ekomaka nkele na miso ya Nzambe.
He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.
10 Moto oyo amemaka bato ya sembo na nzela ya mabe akokangama na motambo oyo asali ye moko, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela bakozwa esengo lokola libula na bango.
He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it.
11 Mozwi amimonaka lokola moto ya bwanya, kasi mobola oyo azali mayele ayebaka ye malamu.
A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him.
12 Tango bato ya sembo balongaka, ezalaka esengo mingi; kasi tango bato mabe bazwaka bokonzi, bato bamibombaka.
By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.
13 Moto oyo abombaka masumu na ye abongaka te, kasi ye oyo atubelaka mpe atikaka yango azwaka ngolu.
He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved.
14 Esengo na moto oyo abangaka tango nyonso kosala mabe, kasi ye oyo ayeisaka motema na ye libanga akweyaka kati na pasi.
Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs.
15 Mokonzi mabe oyo azali kokamba bato bakelela azali lokola nkosi ya kanda to lokola ngombolo oyo ezali kolanda nyama ya kolia.
A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.
16 Mokonzi oyo anyokolaka bato azangi mayele, kasi oyo aboyaka bomengo na nzela ya moyibi ayeisaka mikolo ya bomoi na ye ebele.
A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.
17 Moto oyo amitungisaka mpo ete abomi moninga akimaka kino na libulu ya kufa; tika ete moto moko te akanga ye nzela.
He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten your son, and he shall love you, and give honour to your soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.
18 Moto oyo atambolaka na bosembo akozwa lobiko, kasi moto ya mobulu oyo alandaka banzela mibale akokweya na moko.
He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein].
19 Moto oyo asalaka bilanga atondaka na bilei, kasi moto oyo alandaka bagoyigoyi akotonda na bobola.
He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.
20 Moto ya sembo afulukaka na mapamboli, kasi moto oyo awelaka kokoma mozwi na lombangu akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished.
21 Kopona bilongi ezalaka malamu te; nzokande ata mpo na eteni ya lipa, moto akoki mpe kosala mabe.
He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread.
22 Moto ya bilulela azalaka motema moto-moto mpo na kozwa bomengo, mpe ayebaka te ete bobola ekokomela ye.
An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
23 Moto oyo apamelaka moninga na ye akozwa ngolu na suka koleka moto oyo alobaka maloba ya sukali.
He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.
24 Moto oyo ayibaka tata mpe mama na ye, bongo alobaka: « Ezali na yango mabe te, » azali moninga ya mobomi.
He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man.
25 Moto ya lokoso ayeisaka koswana, kasi moto oyo atiaka elikya na Yawe akotonda na mafuta.
An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully.
26 Moto oyo atiaka elikya kati na ye moko kaka azali zoba, kasi moto oyo atambolaka na bwanya akokangolama.
He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe.
27 Moto oyo akabelaka babola akozanga eloko te, kasi moto oyo aboyaka kotala bango akotonda na bilakeli mabe.
He that gives to the poor shall not be in lack: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress.
28 Tango bato mabe bazwaka bokonzi, bato bamibombaka; kasi tango bakufaka, bato ya sembo bakomaka ebele.
In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.
