Our Thoughts Are Tested by the Lord
1 A dry crust of bread eaten
in peace and quiet
is better than a feast eaten
where everyone argues.
2 A wise slave
will be placed in charge
of a no-good child,
and that slave will be given
the same inheritance
that each child receives.
3 Silver and gold are tested
by flames of fire;
our thoughts are tested
by the Lord.
4 Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
and liars listen to liars.
5 By insulting the poor,
you insult your Creator.
You will be punished
if you make fun
of someone in trouble.
6 Grandparents are proud
of their grandchildren,
and children should be proud
of their parents.
7 It sounds strange for a fool
to talk sensibly,
but it's even worse
for a ruler to tell lies.
8 A bribe works miracles
like a magic charm
that brings good luck.
9 You will keep your friends
if you forgive them,
but you will lose your friends
if you keep talking about
what they did wrong.
10 A sensible person
accepts correction,
but you can't beat sense
into a fool.
11 Cruel people want to rebel,
and so vicious attackers
will be sent against them.
12 A bear robbed of her cubs
is far less dangerous
than a stubborn fool.
13 You will always have trouble
if you are mean to those
who are good to you.
14 The start of an argument
is like a water leak—
so stop it before
real trouble breaks out.
15 The Lord doesn't like those
who defend the guilty
or condemn the innocent.
16 Why should fools have money
for an education
when they refuse to learn?
17 A friend is there to help,
in any situation,
and relatives are born
to share our troubles.
18 It's stupid to guarantee
someone else's loan.
19 The wicked and the proud
love trouble and keep begging
to be hurt.
20 Dishonesty does you no good,
and telling lies
will get you in trouble.
21 It's never pleasant
to be the parent of a fool
and have nothing but pain.
22 If you are cheerful,
you feel good;
if you are sad,
you hurt all over.
23 Crooks accept secret bribes
to keep justice
from being done.
24 Anyone with wisdom knows
what makes good sense,
but fools can never
make up their minds.
25 Foolish children bring sorrow
and pain to their parents.
26 It isn't fair
to punish the innocent
and those who do right.
27 It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.
1 Koyita kuja ikwamu tje tjiwunga tjakawomelela
pana ng'umba izhele zojiwa koga kugwiwa.
2 Nlanda unoshinga ne butjenjedu unowobusa nkololo unoshinga zwinobhatisa shoni,
kakale unowobe ne gobe le thaka se mmwe we bakololo.
3 Bhisilo ngele siliva ne vutho ngeye golide,
ngono Yahwe banolika mimoyo.
4 Nthu unoshinga zwakabipa unoteedza milomo mibiibi,
ne n'nyepi unoteyedza kululimi gwakaleleka.
5 Iye unoseka nshayi unotuka Ndzimu uwe;
na iye unodadila bashayi unotuka mbumbi uwe.
6 Zwizekugwana tjiala tje kwegulu,
ne gudzo le bakololo ndi botate babo.
7 Bunyambi gwe ndebo agutofanila tjilengwe,
koga seleba manyephwa kusingafanile nlauli.
8 Tjizwimbanlomo tjonga bgwe lakanaka le masalamusi mu mesho e unolikoba,
pamwe ne pamwe paanotendebukila unobhudilila.
9 Nthu unozwiyibhatigwa mmwe unoshaka ludo,
koga iye unomusa ndebo unopaladza bazwalani.
10 Kutjemegwa kongina mu nthu unohwisisa,
kupinda shamu dzili zana mu tjilengwe.
11 Nthu mbi tjaanoshaka koga bupanduki,
ndizo unowotumigwa ntumwa una moyo nkukutu.
12 Koyita kuti nthu ashangane ne bhira latolegwa bana,
pana kushangana ne tjilengwe mu bulengwe gwatjo.
13 Ha nthu e bgwiliza bubi nge bubuya,
bubi agutowosiya nsha uwe.
14 Kutangisa kwe kukwebakwebana konga wazhulila vula ye damu,
ndizo misa kukwebakwebana kusathu kukatangisa.
15 Iye unobona mbi akatambunuka ebe e bona nlandu nlulwami,
bose banofanana nge kushimisa Yahwe.
16 Kobhatshani wali kuti tjilengwe tjibhate mari nge luboko tjitenga butjenjedu,
koga tjisina nkumbulo?
17 Nzwalani unoda muzwibaka zose,
ne nkololo wa tate wakazwaligwa nsi usakanaka.
18 Nthu usina nkumbulo unozwisunga nge kutuna,
eti unowolipila mbakidzani naye.
19 Unoda tjinya unoda kukwebakwebana,
iye unothama nkoba uwe eumilidzila pezhugwi unoshaka golomodzo.
20 Nthu una meya mbi aatobhudilila,
ne una lulimi gusakalulwama unowila mu mbatsha.
21 Nkololo we tjilengwe unozhisa shungu kuna tate babe,
tate be tjilengwe abana kushatha.
22 Moyo wakashatha nti unopodza,
koga moyo wakapuna unotema mafupa.
23 Nthu mbiimbi unoamutjila tjizwimba nlomo,
kupeyamisa tjakatambunuka.
24 Nlume una kuhwisisa unozwilingisanya ne butjenjedu,
koga mesho e tjilengwe aku phelelo dze shango.
25 Nkololo we tjilengwe unolonga tate babe shungu,
ne kuhwisa zogwadza mayi bakazwala.
26 Kulipisa nlulwani akuzolulwama;
kuloba makombgwa akuzolulwama.
27 Unoshalula matama una luzibo,
ne wakatebamisa meya nthu unohwisisa.
28 Naitjo tjilengwe tjinozwinyalalila tjotogwa se ntjenjedu,
ha emuma nlomo uwe unotogwa se wakatjenjela.