Masese 8
1 Boni, Bwanya azali kobelela te? Mayele azali koyokisa mongongo na ye te?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 Atelemi na songe ya bangomba, na pembeni ya nzela, na bisika oyo banzela ekutana,
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 azali koganga pene ya bikuke, na ekotelo ya engumba:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 « Bato, nazali koganga makasi epai na bino, nazali nde koloba na bino bato!
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 Bino bato oyo bozanga mayele, bokoma na bososoli! Bino bazoba, bokoma mayele!
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Boyoka, pamba te nazali na makambo ya motuya ya koyebisa bino, nafungoli monoko na ngai mpo na koloba makambo ya sembo.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Pamba te monoko na ngai ebimisaka maloba ya solo, mpe bibebu na ngai eyinaka mabe.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 Maloba nyonso oyo ebimaka na monoko na ngai ezali sembo, ezalaka na likambo moko te ya lokuta to ya mabe;
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 nyonso ezali pole mpo na moto ya mayele, mpe sembo mpo na bato oyo bazali na bososoli.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Boluka mateya na ngai kasi palata te, boyebi kasi wolo te oyo eleki peto,
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 pamba te bwanya ezali na motuya koleka mayaka ya kitoko, bongo eloko moko te ya motuya ekokani na yango.
For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 Ngai, Bwanya, navandaka elongo na kokanisa, boye nayebi kokundola mayele mpe bososoli.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 Kotosa Yawe ezali koyina mabe. Nayinaka lolendo, lofundu, nzela ya masumu mpe monoko ya lokuta.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Toli mpe bososoli ezali ya ngai, ngai nde mayele mpe makasi.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Ezali na nzela na ngai nde bakonzi batambolisaka mokili, mpe bakambi basalaka mibeko ya sembo;
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 ezali na nzela na ngai nde bakambi, bankumu mpe basambisi nyonso ya mokili bayangelaka.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Nalingaka bato oyo balingaka ngai, mpe bato oyo balukaka ngai bamonaka ngai.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Bozwi mpe lokumu, bomengo oyo ewumelaka mpe bosembo etambolaka elongo na ngai.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Mbuma na ngai ezali kitoko koleka wolo, ezala wolo ya peto, mpe mbuma oyo nabotaka eleki palata ya kitoko.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 Natambolaka na nzela ya bosembo, mpe nasalelaka banzela oyo ememaka na boyengebene,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 mpo na kopesa libula epai ya bato oyo balingaka ngai mpe mpo na kotondisa bibombelo na bango.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 Yawe asalaki ngai liboso ete asala nyonso, liboso ya misala na Ye nyonso ya kala;
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 aponaki ngai liboso ete mokili ezala, wuta na ebandeli penza, wuta na tango oyo biloko nyonso ya mokili ezalaki nanu te.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Nabotamaki tango mayi ya bozindo ezalaki nanu te, tango miluka ebimisaki nanu mayi na yango te,
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 liboso ete bangomba ya milayi mpe bangomba ya mikuse ezala na bisika na yango,
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 tango amisalelaki nanu te, ezala mabele to bilanga to mpe putulu ya mokili.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Nazalaki wana tango atandaki likolo na esika na yango, mpe tango akataki mondelo ya etando monene ya mayi ya bozindo,
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 tango atiaki mapata na likolo mpe abimisaki mayi wuta na bitima,
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 tango akatelaki ebale monene mondelo mpo ete mayi ezindisa mokili na Ye te, tango atiaki miboko ya mabele;
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
30 nazalaki pembeni na Ye lokola mosungi, nazalaki kosepelisa ye tango nyonso, mpe nazalaki tango nyonso na esengo liboso na Ye;
Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 nazalaki kosepela kati na mokili na Ye mpe nazalaki na esengo kati na bato.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Sik’oyo, mwana na ngai, yoka ngai: Esengo na bato oyo babatelaka banzela na ngai!
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Boyoka mateya na ngai mpe bokokoma bato ya bwanya, bomeka kobwaka yango te!
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Esengo na moto oyo ayokelaka ngai, oyo asenzelaka na ekuke na ngai mokolo na mokolo, mpe akengelaka na ekotelo na ngai!
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Pamba te moto oyo amoni ngai amoni bomoi mpe azwi ngolu na miso ya Yawe.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 Kasi moto oyo atosaka ngai te amisalaka mabe ye moko: moto nyonso oyo ayinaka ngai alingaka kufa. »
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
