Masese 21
1 Kati na loboko na Yawe, motema ya mokonzi ezalaka lokola moluka oyo atindaka esika nyonso oyo alingi.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Nzela nyonso ya moto emonanaka alima na miso na ye, kasi ezali Yawe nde amekaka mitema.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Na miso na Yawe, kosala makambo ya sembo mpe ya alima ezali motuya koleka bambeka ya kotumba.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Miso ya lofundu, motema ya lolendo mpe kongenga ya bato mabe ezali masumu.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 Mabongisi ya moto oyo asalaka mosala ememaka ye na bomengo, kasi kozala motema moto-moto ememaka na kozanga.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Kozwa bomengo na nzela ya lokuta ezali kaka molinga oyo epanzanaka mpe motambo oyo ememaka na kufa.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Makambo ya bato mabe ebebisaka bango moko, pamba te baboyaka kosala makambo ya sembo.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 Nzela ya moto mabe ezalaka na mabaku, kasi mosala ya moto ya peto ezalaka sembo.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Kovanda na songe ya ndako ezali malamu koleka kovanda elongo na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Molimo ya moto mabe elingaka kaka makambo mabe; ata moninga na ye penza azwaka ngolu te na miso na ye.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Tango bapesaka motioli etumbu, zoba akomaka moto ya bwanya; mpe tango bapesaka malako epai ya moto ya bwanya, azwaka solo boyebi.
When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Nzambe ya sembo atalaka na bokebi makambo oyo esalemaka kati na bandako ya bato mabe, mpe akweyisaka bango kati na pasi.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Soki moto akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka koganga ya mobola, ye mpe bakoyanola ye te tango akoganga.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Likabo oyo bapesi na nkuku ekitisaka kanda, mpe kado oyo batie na tolo ekitisaka kanda makasi.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Ezali esengo mpo na moyengebene kosambisa makambo na sembo, kasi yango ezali pasi makasi mpo na bato oyo basalaka mabe.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Moto oyo abungi nzela ya bwanya akovanda kati na lisanga ya bakufi.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Moto oyo alingaka biyenga akokoma mobola; moto oyo alingaka masanga ya vino mpe mafuta akotikala kokoma mozwi te.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Moto mabe azalaka lokola motuya oyo bafutaka mpo na kosikola moto ya sembo; moto ya sembo te azalaka lokola motuya oyo bafutaka mpo na kosikola moto ya alima.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Kovanda kati na esobe ezali malamu koleka kovanda esika moko na mwasi oyo aswanaka-swanaka mpe asilikaka-silikaka.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Bilei ya kitoko mpe mafuta ezalaka kati na ndako ya moto ya bwanya, kasi moto oyo azangi mayele abebisaka yango.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Moto oyo alukaka bosembo mpe bolingo akozwa bomoi, bomengo mpe lokumu.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Moto ya bwanya abundisaka engumba ya bato ya makasi, mpe akweyisaka bandako ya makasi oyo bato batielaka mitema.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Moto oyo abatelaka monoko mpe lolemo na ye abatelaka molimo na ye na pasi.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Kombo ya moto ya lofundu mpe ya lolendo ezali: « Motioli. » Asalaka makambo na lolendo oyo eleka ndelo.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Baposa ya moto ya goyigoyi ekoboma ye, pamba te maboko na ye eboyaka kosala.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Mokolo mobimba, akufaka na ye kaka na baposa makasi; kasi moto ya sembo apesaka na kobomba te.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Mbeka ya moto mabe ezalaka nkele; ezalaka nkele koleka soki amemi yango na makanisi mabe.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Motatoli ya lokuta akokufa, kasi moto oyo ayokaka akoloba tango nyonso.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Moto mabe akangaka elongi na ye, kasi moto ya sembo alendisaka nzela na ye.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Liboso na Yawe, bwanya moko te, mayele moko te mpe toli moko te ekoki kolonga.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Mpunda ebongisama mpo na mokolo ya bitumba, kasi elonga ewutaka na Yawe.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
