Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
3 Kosilisa makasi na yo na basi te, komitika te na basi oyo bapengwisaka bakonzi!
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 Eh Lemweli, ebongi te mpo na bakonzi; te, ebongi te mpo na bato minene kotuna: « Wapi masanga ya makasi? »
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
5 Noki te soki bameli yango, bakobosana mibeko mpe bakokata na bosembo te makambo ya banyokolami.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
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 those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any 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 with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 alukaka bapwale ya meme mpe basinga ya lino, bongo maboko na ye etongaka yango na esengo.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
15 alamukaka wana butu ezali nanu, abongisaka bilei mpo na ndako na ye mpe akabolelaka basali na ye ya basi misala.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
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.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 Asalaka babulangeti mpo na mbeto na ye mpe alataka bilamba na ye ya lino ya kitoko mpe ya motane.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 Azalaka na bokebi na makambo nyonso oyo elekaka na ndako na ye, mpe aliaka lipa na bogoyigoyi te.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Bana na ye bakotelema mpo na kokumisa ye, mpe tala ndenge mobali na ye mpe akumisaka ye:
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
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 of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
