Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Kosilisa makasi na yo na basi te, komitika te na basi oyo bapengwisaka bakonzi!
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Eh Lemweli, ebongi te mpo na bakonzi; te, ebongi te mpo na bato minene kotuna: « Wapi masanga ya makasi? »
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Noki te soki bameli yango, bakobosana mibeko mpe bakokata na bosembo te makambo ya banyokolami.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Pesa masanga ya makasi epai ya bato oyo balingi kokufa, mpe vino epai ya bato oyo bazali kotungisama na motema.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Fungola monoko na yo mpo na kolobela bato oyo bazali na makoki ya koloba te, mpe mpo na kolongisa bato oyo bazanga basungi.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 alukaka bapwale ya meme mpe basinga ya lino, bongo maboko na ye etongaka yango na esengo.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 alamukaka wana butu ezali nanu, abongisaka bilei mpo na ndako na ye mpe akabolelaka basali na ye ya basi misala.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Tango mvula ya pembe ekitaka, abangaka eloko moko te mpo na ndako na ye, pamba te bato nyonso kati na ndako na ye balataka bilamba ya malili.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Asalaka babulangeti mpo na mbeto na ye mpe alataka bilamba na ye ya lino ya kitoko mpe ya motane.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Azalaka na bokebi na makambo nyonso oyo elekaka na ndako na ye, mpe aliaka lipa na bogoyigoyi te.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Bana na ye bakotelema mpo na kokumisa ye, mpe tala ndenge mobali na ye mpe akumisaka ye:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Bopesa ye bambuma ya misala na ye! Tika ete bapesa ye lokumu, na bikuke ya engumba, mpo na misala nyonso oyo asalaka!
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
