Masese 3
1 Mwana na Ngai, kobosana mateya na ngai te, kasi batela mibeko na ngai kati na motema na yo;
My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
2 pamba te ekoyeisa mikolo ya bomoi na yo milayi, ekobakisa mibu ebele na bomoi na yo mpe ekomemela yo kimia.
Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
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!
Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
5 Ndimela Yawe na motema na yo mobimba, mpe kotia motema te na mayele na yo.
Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
7 Tika ete omimonaka te moto ya bwanya na miso na yo moko; tosa Yawe mpe longwa na mabe.
Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
8 Ekozala kisi mpo na kokomisa nzoto na yo kolongono mpe kolendisa mikuwa na yo.
Then you will have healed and be made strong.
9 Pesaka Yawe lokumu na nzela ya biloko na yo mpe ya bambuma ya liboso ya bozwi na yo nyonso.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
10 Bongo bibombelo na yo ekotonda na biloko, mpe bambeki na yo ekotonda na vino.
Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Mwana na ngai, yamba toli ya Yawe, koboya te pamela na Ye;
My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
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 wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
15 Ezali na motuya koleka babiju, mpe eloko moko te oyo moto akoki koluka ekokani na yango.
She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
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.
She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
17 Nzela na Ye ezali ya esengo, mpe banzela na Ye nyonso ya mike ezali ya kimia.
She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
18 Bwanya ezali nzete ya bomoi mpo na bato oyo basimbaka yango; bato oyo bakokanga yango makasi bakozala na esengo.
Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
20 Na nzela ya mayele na Ye, mozindo ya se ya mabele ebimisaki mayi mpe mapata enokisaki mvula.
It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
21 Mwana na ngai, tika ete bwanya mpe bososoli ezala mosika ya miso na yo te; batela yango malamu,
My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
23 Boye, okotambola na kimia na nzela na yo, mpe lokolo na yo ekobeta libaku te.
You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
24 Tango okolala, okobanga eloko moko te, pamba te pongi na yo ekozala ya kimia.
When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Somo ya pwasa ekobangisa yo te, ezala tango bato mabe bakobimela yo na pwasa;
You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
26 pamba te Yawe akozala elikya na yo mpe akobatela makolo na yo mpo ete ekangama te na motambo.
for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
27 Koboyaka te kosala bolamu epai ya moto oyo azali na bosenga, tango maboko na yo ezali na makoki ya kosala yango.
Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
28 Kolobaka na moninga na yo te: « Kende, bongo oya sima; nakopesa yo yango lobi; » soki ozali na makoki ya kosala likambo yango.
Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
29 Kosalaka moninga na yo mabe te soki azali kovanda na kimia epai na yo.
Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
31 Kolulaka te moto ya mobulu mpe koponaka ata nzela moko te, kati na banzela na ye.
Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
32 Pamba te Yawe ayinaka bato mabe, kasi ayebisaka basekele na Ye epai ya bato ya sembo.
For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
33 Yawe alakelaka mabe ndako ya moto mabe, kasi apambolaka ndako ya moto ya sembo;
The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
