Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
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 those who destroy 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, 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.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights 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 to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Fungola monoko na yo mpo na kolobela bato oyo bazali na makoki ya koloba te, mpe mpo na kolongisa bato oyo bazanga basungi.
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
She does good things for him 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 selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is like the merchant ships; she brings her 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 rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
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 is not afraid of the snow for her household, 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.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
She opens 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 watches over the ways 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, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will 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 in the gates.
