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 observe my precepts!
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 shall they multiply 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 kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success 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 thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.
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 muscles, And moisture 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 substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy 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 vats overflow with new wine.
11 Mwana na ngai, yamba toli ya Yawe, koboya te pamela na Ye;
My son, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who 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 profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.
15 Ezali na motuya koleka babiju, mpe eloko moko te oyo moto akoki koluka ekokani na yango.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared 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.
Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand 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.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 Na nzela ya mayele na Ye, mozindo ya se ya mabele ebimisaki mayi mpe mapata enokisaki mvula.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, 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 them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion!
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
For they shall be life to 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 go on thy way securely, 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 thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for 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; Yea, he will 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 kindness from those who need 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 to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” 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 neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Kolulaka te moto ya mobulu mpe koponaka ata nzela moko te, kati na banzela na ye.
Envy 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 perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.
33 Yawe alakelaka mabe ndako ya moto mabe, kasi apambolaka ndako ya moto ya sembo;
The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.
