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 teaching, and let thy 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 years of life, and peace, will they increase unto 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 kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes 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 thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level 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 thy 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 will be healing to thy body, 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.
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 Bongo bibombelo na yo ekotonda na biloko, mpe bambeki na yo ekotonda na vino.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 Mwana na ngai, yamba toli ya Yawe, koboya te pamela na Ye;
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth 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 obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
15 Ezali na motuya koleka babiju, mpe eloko moko te oyo moto akoki koluka ekokani na yango.
She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest are not equal 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: in her left are riches and honor.
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.
A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 Na nzela ya mayele na Ye, mozindo ya se ya mabele ebimisaki mayi mpe mapata enokisaki mvula.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies 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 them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Boye, okotambola na kimia na nzela na yo, mpe lokolo na yo ekobeta libaku te.
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 Tango okolala, okobanga eloko moko te, pamba te pongi na yo ekozala ya kimia.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Somo ya pwasa ekobangisa yo te, ezala tango bato mabe bakobimela yo na pwasa;
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over 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 will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
27 Koboyaka te kosala bolamu epai ya moto oyo azali na bosenga, tango maboko na yo ezali na makoki ya kosala yango.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, when it is in the power of thy 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 neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Kosalaka moninga na yo mabe te soki azali kovanda na kimia epai na yo.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Quarrel not with any 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 not the man of violence, 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 an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
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 the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
