Masese 4
1 Bana na ngai, boyokaka mateya ya tata, bozalaka na bokebi mpo ete bozwa mayele.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Pamba te nazali kopesa bino mateya ya malamu; bobwaka mateya na ngai te.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Ngai mpe nazalaki mwana malamu na miso ya tata na ngai, boye mama na ngai alingaki ngai makasi lokola mwana oyo abotama kaka ye moko.
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 Tata na ngai azalaki koteya mpe koloba na ngai boye: « Tika ete motema na yo ebatela maloba na ngai, bomba mibeko na ngai mpe okozala na bomoi,
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 zwa bwanya, zwa mayele, kobosana yango te, kopesa mokongo te na maloba ya monoko na ngai,
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 kosundola bwanya te, mpe yango ekobatela yo, linga yango mpe ekobomba yo.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Tala ebandeli ya bwanya: Zwa bwanya, pesa biloko nyonso oyo ozali na yango mpo ete ozwa mayele.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Simba yango makasi, mpe ekotombola yo; yamba yango, mpe ekopesa yo lokumu.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Ekolatisa yo ekoti ya lokumu na moto, ekopesa yo motole ya nkembo. »
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Mwana na ngai, yoka mpe yamba maloba na ngai, mpe mibu ya bomoi na yo ekobakisama.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Nazali kolakisa yo nzela ya bwanya, nazali kotambolisa yo na nzela ya alima.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Mpo ete makolo na yo ezala na mikakatano te tango okotambola; mpe soki okimi mbangu, okokweya te.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Tingama makasi na mateya oyo bapesi yo, kobwaka yango te, batela yango malamu mpo ete ezali bomoi na yo.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Kokotaka te na nzela ya bato ya mobulu mpe kotambolaka te na nzela ya bato mabe.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Longwa kati na bango, kolekela wana te, kosala mpe maseki kuna te, kasi kende na yo na nzela mosusu.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Pamba te balalaka pongi te soki basali nanu moto mabe te, mpe pongi ekimaka bango soki babomi moto te;
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 baliaka lipa na nzela ya mabe mpe bamelaka vino na nzela ya mobulu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Nzokande, nzela ya bato ya sembo ezali lokola pole ya tongo makasi, oyo kongenga na yango eyaka malembe-malembe kino tango moyi ekobima makasi.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Nzela ya bato ya mobulu ezali lokola molili, bayebaka te eloko nini ekokweyisa bango.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Mwana na ngai, zala na bokebi na maloba na ngai, pesa litoyi na yo na mateya na ngai.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Tika ete ezala te mosika ya miso na yo! Batela yango malamu kati na motema na yo,
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 pamba te ezali bomoi mpo na bato oyo bazwaka yango, mpe epesaka nzoto kolongono.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Batela malamu motema na yo koleka biloko nyonso, pamba te makambo nyonso oyo tosalaka, wana tozali na bomoi, ewutaka na motema.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Longola lokuta na monoko na yo, mpe longola mabe na bibebu na yo.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Tika ete miso na yo etalaka kaka liboso, mpe salaka makambo na bosembo mpe bosolo.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Bongisa nzela oyo makolo na yo ekolekela, mpe tambola kaka na nzela oyo oyebi malamu.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Kotengama te, ezala na ngambo ya loboko ya mobali to ya mwasi, longola makolo na yo na mabe.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
