Masese 3
1 Mwana na Ngai, kobosana mateya na ngai te, kasi batela mibeko na ngai kati na motema na yo;
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 pamba te ekoyeisa mikolo ya bomoi na yo milayi, ekobakisa mibu ebele na bomoi na yo mpe ekomemela yo kimia.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Tika ete bolamu mpe bosolo ekabwana na yo te, linga yango zingazinga na kingo na yo, mpe koma yango na etando ya motema na yo!
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Ndimela Yawe na motema na yo mobimba, mpe kotia motema te na mayele na yo.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Tika ete omimonaka te moto ya bwanya na miso na yo moko; tosa Yawe mpe longwa na mabe.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Ekozala kisi mpo na kokomisa nzoto na yo kolongono mpe kolendisa mikuwa na yo.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Pesaka Yawe lokumu na nzela ya biloko na yo mpe ya bambuma ya liboso ya bozwi na yo nyonso.
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 Bongo bibombelo na yo ekotonda na biloko, mpe bambeki na yo ekotonda na vino.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Mwana na ngai, yamba toli ya Yawe, koboya te pamela na Ye;
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 Pamba te kozala na yango eleki kozala na palata na motuya, mpe lifuti na yango eleki wolo oyo balekisi na moto na motuya.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 Ezali na motuya koleka babiju, mpe eloko moko te oyo moto akoki koluka ekokani na yango.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Kati na loboko na Ye ya mobali, ezali na bomoi ya molayi; mpe kati na loboko na Ye ya mwasi, ezali na lokumu mpe bomengo.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Nzela na Ye ezali ya esengo, mpe banzela na Ye nyonso ya mike ezali ya kimia.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Bwanya ezali nzete ya bomoi mpo na bato oyo basimbaka yango; bato oyo bakokanga yango makasi bakozala na esengo.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 Na nzela ya mayele na Ye, mozindo ya se ya mabele ebimisaki mayi mpe mapata enokisaki mvula.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Mwana na ngai, tika ete bwanya mpe bososoli ezala mosika ya miso na yo te; batela yango malamu,
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Boye, okotambola na kimia na nzela na yo, mpe lokolo na yo ekobeta libaku te.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 Tango okolala, okobanga eloko moko te, pamba te pongi na yo ekozala ya kimia.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Somo ya pwasa ekobangisa yo te, ezala tango bato mabe bakobimela yo na pwasa;
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 pamba te Yawe akozala elikya na yo mpe akobatela makolo na yo mpo ete ekangama te na motambo.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Koboyaka te kosala bolamu epai ya moto oyo azali na bosenga, tango maboko na yo ezali na makoki ya kosala yango.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Kolobaka na moninga na yo te: « Kende, bongo oya sima; nakopesa yo yango lobi; » soki ozali na makoki ya kosala likambo yango.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Kosalaka moninga na yo mabe te soki azali kovanda na kimia epai na yo.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Kolulaka te moto ya mobulu mpe koponaka ata nzela moko te, kati na banzela na ye.
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 Pamba te Yawe ayinaka bato mabe, kasi ayebisaka basekele na Ye epai ya bato ya sembo.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Yawe alakelaka mabe ndako ya moto mabe, kasi apambolaka ndako ya moto ya sembo;
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
