Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Kosilisa makasi na yo na basi te, komitika te na basi oyo bapengwisaka bakonzi!
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of 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 take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Noki te soki bameli yango, bakobosana mibeko mpe bakokata na bosembo te makambo ya banyokolami.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
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 him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Fungola monoko na yo mpo na kolobela bato oyo bazali na makoki ya koloba te, mpe mpo na kolongisa bato oyo bazanga basungi.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 alukaka bapwale ya meme mpe basinga ya lino, bongo maboko na ye etongaka yango na esengo.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 alamukaka wana butu ezali nanu, abongisaka bilei mpo na ndako na ye mpe akabolelaka basali na ye ya basi misala.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
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.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Asalaka babulangeti mpo na mbeto na ye mpe alataka bilamba na ye ya lino ya kitoko mpe ya motane.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Azalaka na bokebi na makambo nyonso oyo elekaka na ndako na ye, mpe aliaka lipa na bogoyigoyi te.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Bana na ye bakotelema mpo na kokumisa ye, mpe tala ndenge mobali na ye mpe akumisaka ye:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of 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 credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
