Masese 28
1 Moto mabe akimaka ata soki moto moko te abengani ye, kasi bato ya sembo bazalaka na mpiko lokola nkosi.
The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 Soki kotomboka ezali kati na mokili, bakonzi bakomaka ebele; kasi moto ya mayele mpe ya bososoli ayeisaka kimia.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
3 Mokonzi oyo anyokolaka bato bakelela azali lokola mvula ya makasi oyo ebebisaka biloko mpe ememaka nzala.
A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
4 Bato oyo babukaka mibeko bakumisaka bato mabe, kasi bato oyo babatelaka mibeko batelemelaka bato mabe.
Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked; but those who keep the Law contend with them.
5 Bato mabe basosolaka te makambo ya bosembo, kasi bato oyo balukaka Yawe basosolaka yango nyonso.
Evil men do not understand justice; but those who seek Jehovah understand it fully.
6 Mobola oyo atambolaka na bosembo azali malamu koleka mozwi oyo nzela na ye ezali mabe.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
7 Moto oyo abatelaka mibeko azali mwana mayele, kasi moto oyo atambolaka na bato ya loyenge ayokisaka tata na ye soni.
Whoever keeps the Law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Moto oyo abakisaka bomengo na ye na nzela ya moyibi abombelaka yango moto oyo asalisaka babola.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
9 Moto oyo akangi matoyi na ye mpo na koboya koyoka mobeko, libondeli na ye ekomaka nkele na miso ya Nzambe.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Moto oyo amemaka bato ya sembo na nzela ya mabe akokangama na motambo oyo asali ye moko, kasi bato oyo bazangi pamela bakozwa esengo lokola libula na bango.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
11 Mozwi amimonaka lokola moto ya bwanya, kasi mobola oyo azali mayele ayebaka ye malamu.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 Tango bato ya sembo balongaka, ezalaka esengo mingi; kasi tango bato mabe bazwaka bokonzi, bato bamibombaka.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 Moto oyo abombaka masumu na ye abongaka te, kasi ye oyo atubelaka mpe atikaka yango azwaka ngolu.
He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Esengo na moto oyo abangaka tango nyonso kosala mabe, kasi ye oyo ayeisaka motema na ye libanga akweyaka kati na pasi.
Blessed is the man who is always reverent; but the one who hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15 Mokonzi mabe oyo azali kokamba bato bakelela azali lokola nkosi ya kanda to lokola ngombolo oyo ezali kolanda nyama ya kolia.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
16 Mokonzi oyo anyokolaka bato azangi mayele, kasi oyo aboyaka bomengo na nzela ya moyibi ayeisaka mikolo ya bomoi na ye ebele.
A prince who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will prolong his days.
17 Moto oyo amitungisaka mpo ete abomi moninga akimaka kino na libulu ya kufa; tika ete moto moko te akanga ye nzela.
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
18 Moto oyo atambolaka na bosembo akozwa lobiko, kasi moto ya mobulu oyo alandaka banzela mibale akokweya na moko.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
19 Moto oyo asalaka bilanga atondaka na bilei, kasi moto oyo alandaka bagoyigoyi akotonda na bobola.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 Moto ya sembo afulukaka na mapamboli, kasi moto oyo awelaka kokoma mozwi na lombangu akozanga te kozwa etumbu.
A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 Kopona bilongi ezalaka malamu te; nzokande ata mpo na eteni ya lipa, moto akoki mpe kosala mabe.
To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Moto ya bilulela azalaka motema moto-moto mpo na kozwa bomengo, mpe ayebaka te ete bobola ekokomela ye.
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn't know that poverty waits for him.
23 Moto oyo apamelaka moninga na ye akozwa ngolu na suka koleka moto oyo alobaka maloba ya sukali.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Moto oyo ayibaka tata mpe mama na ye, bongo alobaka: « Ezali na yango mabe te, » azali moninga ya mobomi.
Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.
25 Moto ya lokoso ayeisaka koswana, kasi moto oyo atiaka elikya na Yawe akotonda na mafuta.
One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Jehovah will prosper.
26 Moto oyo atiaka elikya kati na ye moko kaka azali zoba, kasi moto oyo atambolaka na bwanya akokangolama.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 Moto oyo akabelaka babola akozanga eloko te, kasi moto oyo aboyaka kotala bango akotonda na bilakeli mabe.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
28 Tango bato mabe bazwaka bokonzi, bato bamibombaka; kasi tango bakufaka, bato ya sembo bakomaka ebele.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
