Masese 8
1 Boni, Bwanya azali kobelela te? Mayele azali koyokisa mongongo na ye te?
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise 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 way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 azali koganga pene ya bikuke, na ekotelo ya engumba:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 « Bato, nazali koganga makasi epai na bino, nazali nde koloba na bino bato!
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Bino bato oyo bozanga mayele, bokoma na bososoli! Bino bazoba, bokoma mayele!
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be 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 I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 Pamba te monoko na ngai ebimisaka maloba ya solo, mpe bibebu na ngai eyinaka mabe.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Maloba nyonso oyo ebimaka na monoko na ngai ezali sembo, ezalaka na likambo moko te ya lokuta to ya mabe;
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 nyonso ezali pole mpo na moto ya mayele, mpe sembo mpo na bato oyo bazali na bososoli.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Boluka mateya na ngai kasi palata te, boyebi kasi wolo te oyo eleki peto,
Receive my instruction rather than silver, 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 rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 Ngai, Bwanya, navandaka elongo na kokanisa, boye nayebi kokundola mayele mpe bososoli.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
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. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Toli mpe bososoli ezali ya ngai, ngai nde mayele mpe makasi.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Ezali na nzela na ngai nde bakonzi batambolisaka mokili, mpe bakambi basalaka mibeko ya sembo;
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 ezali na nzela na ngai nde bakambi, bankumu mpe basambisi nyonso ya mokili bayangelaka.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 Nalingaka bato oyo balingaka ngai, mpe bato oyo balukaka ngai bamonaka ngai.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Bozwi mpe lokumu, bomengo oyo ewumelaka mpe bosembo etambolaka elongo na ngai.
With me are riches, honour, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
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, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 Natambolaka na nzela ya bosembo, mpe nasalelaka banzela oyo ememaka na boyengebene,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of 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 give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 Yawe asalaki ngai liboso ete asala nyonso, liboso ya misala na Ye nyonso ya kala;
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 aponaki ngai liboso ete mokili ezala, wuta na ebandeli penza, wuta na tango oyo biloko nyonso ya mokili ezalaki nanu te.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 Nabotamaki tango mayi ya bozindo ezalaki nanu te, tango miluka ebimisaki nanu mayi na yango te,
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 liboso ete bangomba ya milayi mpe bangomba ya mikuse ezala na bisika na yango,
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 tango amisalelaki nanu te, ezala mabele to bilanga to mpe putulu ya mokili.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning 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 established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 tango atiaki mapata na likolo mpe abimisaki mayi wuta na bitima,
when he established the clouds 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 gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out 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 I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 nazalaki kosepela kati na mokili na Ye mpe nazalaki na esengo kati na bato.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Sik’oyo, mwana na ngai, yoka ngai: Esengo na bato oyo babatelaka banzela na ngai!
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Boyoka mateya na ngai mpe bokokoma bato ya bwanya, bomeka kobwaka yango te!
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Esengo na moto oyo ayokelaka ngai, oyo asenzelaka na ekuke na ngai mokolo na mokolo, mpe akengelaka na ekotelo na ngai!
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 Pamba te moto oyo amoni ngai amoni bomoi mpe azwi ngolu na miso ya Yawe.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favour from the LORD.
36 Kasi moto oyo atosaka ngai te amisalaka mabe ye moko: moto nyonso oyo ayinaka ngai alingaka kufa. »
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
