< 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 teaching; but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· 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 length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
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!
Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Okozwa ngolu mpe kombo ya malamu na miso ya Nzambe mpe na miso ya bato.
So you will find chen ·grace·, 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 Adonai with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 Yebaka Ye na banzela na yo nyonso, mpe Ye akokomisa yango alima.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Tika ete omimonaka te moto ya bwanya na miso na yo moko; tosa Yawe mpe longwa na mabe.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
8 Ekozala kisi mpo na kokomisa nzoto na yo kolongono mpe kolendisa mikuwa na yo.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Pesaka Yawe lokumu na nzela ya biloko na yo mpe ya bambuma ya liboso ya bozwi na yo nyonso.
Honor Adonai with your substance, 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 barns will be filled with plenty, 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 despise Adonai’s discipline, neither be despondent when he corrects you:
12 pamba te Yawe apamelaka moto oyo Ye alingaka, ndenge kaka tata apamelaka mwana na ye, oyo alingaka.
for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; even as a father reproves his son in whom he delights.
13 Esengo na moto oyo amoni bwanya! Esengo na moto oyo azwi mayele!
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets 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 her good profit is better than getting silver, and her teshuvah ·complete return· is better 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. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to 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 kavod ·weighty glory·.
17 Nzela na Ye ezali ya esengo, mpe banzela na Ye nyonso ya mike ezali ya kimia.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 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 those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Na nzela ya bwanya, Yawe atiaki miboko ya mabele; na nzela ya mayele, alendisaki likolo.
By wisdom Adonai founded the earth. By understanding, 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 were broken up, 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 depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 pamba te ekozala bomoi mpo na yo mpe ngolu mpo na kingo na yo.
so they will be life to your soul, and chen ·grace· for your neck.
23 Boye, okotambola na kimia na nzela na yo, mpe lokolo na yo ekobeta libaku te.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 Tango okolala, okobanga eloko moko te, pamba te pongi na yo ekozala ya kimia.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Somo ya pwasa ekobangisa yo te, ezala tango bato mabe bakobimela yo na pwasa;
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
26 pamba te Yawe akozala elikya na yo mpe akobatela makolo na yo mpo ete ekangama te na motambo.
for Adonai will be your confidence, and will keep your 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.
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, 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.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Kosalaka moninga na yo mabe te soki azali kovanda na kimia epai na yo.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Kolukelaka moto makambo te, oyo ezanga tina soki asali yo mabe te.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Kolulaka te moto ya mobulu mpe koponaka ata nzela moko te, kati na banzela na ye.
Don’t envy the man of violence. 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 is an abomination to Adonai, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Yawe alakelaka mabe ndako ya moto mabe, kasi apambolaka ndako ya moto ya sembo;
Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
34 asambwisaka batioli, kasi atalisaka ngolu na Ye epai ya bato oyo bamikitisaka.
Surely he opposes the mockers, but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble.
35 Bato ya bwanya bakozwa nkembo, kasi bazoba bakozala na soni.
The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

< Masese 3 >