Masese 3
1 Mwana na Ngai, kobosana mateya na ngai te, kasi batela mibeko na ngai kati na motema na yo;
MY son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 pamba te ekoyeisa mikolo ya bomoi na yo milayi, ekobakisa mibu ebele na bomoi na yo mpe ekomemela yo kimia.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
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 truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Ndimela Yawe na motema na yo mobimba, mpe kotia motema te na mayele na yo.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Tika ete omimonaka te moto ya bwanya na miso na yo moko; tosa Yawe mpe longwa na mabe.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 Ekozala kisi mpo na kokomisa nzoto na yo kolongono mpe kolendisa mikuwa na yo.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Pesaka Yawe lokumu na nzela ya biloko na yo mpe ya bambuma ya liboso ya bozwi na yo nyonso.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 Bongo bibombelo na yo ekotonda na biloko, mpe bambeki na yo ekotonda na vino.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Mwana na ngai, yamba toli ya Yawe, koboya te pamela na Ye;
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth 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 the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 Ezali na motuya koleka babiju, mpe eloko moko te oyo moto akoki koluka ekokani na yango.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto 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.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Nzela na Ye ezali ya esengo, mpe banzela na Ye nyonso ya mike ezali ya kimia.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths 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 them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 Na nzela ya mayele na Ye, mozindo ya se ya mabele ebimisaki mayi mpe mapata enokisaki mvula.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Mwana na ngai, tika ete bwanya mpe bososoli ezala mosika ya miso na yo te; batela yango malamu,
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Boye, okotambola na kimia na nzela na yo, mpe lokolo na yo ekobeta libaku te.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 Tango okolala, okobanga eloko moko te, pamba te pongi na yo ekozala ya kimia.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Somo ya pwasa ekobangisa yo te, ezala tango bato mabe bakobimela yo na pwasa;
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 pamba te Yawe akozala elikya na yo mpe akobatela makolo na yo mpo ete ekangama te na motambo.
For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Koboyaka te kosala bolamu epai ya moto oyo azali na bosenga, tango maboko na yo ezali na makoki ya kosala yango.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine 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 unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Kosalaka moninga na yo mabe te soki azali kovanda na kimia epai na yo.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Kolulaka te moto ya mobulu mpe koponaka ata nzela moko te, kati na banzela na ye.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 Pamba te Yawe ayinaka bato mabe, kasi ayebisaka basekele na Ye epai ya bato ya sembo.
For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Yawe alakelaka mabe ndako ya moto mabe, kasi apambolaka ndako ya moto ya sembo;
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
