Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Kosilisa makasi na yo na basi te, komitika te na basi oyo bapengwisaka bakonzi!
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Eh Lemweli, ebongi te mpo na bakonzi; te, ebongi te mpo na bato minene kotuna: « Wapi masanga ya makasi? »
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 Noki te soki bameli yango, bakobosana mibeko mpe bakokata na bosembo te makambo ya banyokolami.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Pesa masanga ya makasi epai ya bato oyo balingi kokufa, mpe vino epai ya bato oyo bazali kotungisama na motema.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble 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 thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 alukaka bapwale ya meme mpe basinga ya lino, bongo maboko na ye etongaka yango na esengo.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 alamukaka wana butu ezali nanu, abongisaka bilei mpo na ndako na ye mpe akabolelaka basali na ye ya basi misala.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth 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.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Asalaka babulangeti mpo na mbeto na ye mpe alataka bilamba na ye ya lino ya kitoko mpe ya motane.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Azalaka na bokebi na makambo nyonso oyo elekaka na ndako na ye, mpe aliaka lipa na bogoyigoyi te.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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, also, and he praiseth her:
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
“Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed 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 of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
