Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold
1 It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.
2 An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
3 It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.
4 If you are too lazy to plow,
don't expect a harvest.
5 Someone's thoughts may be
as deep as the ocean,
but if you are smart,
you will discover them.
6 There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
But can they be trusted?
7 Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.
8 When rulers decide cases,
they weigh the evidence.
9 Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
and my sins are gone”?
10 Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
and dishonest measures.
11 The good or bad
that children do
shows what they are like.
12 Hearing and seeing
are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you sleep all the time,
you will starve;
if you get up and work,
you will have enough food.
14 Everyone likes to brag
about getting a bargain.
15 Sensible words are better
than gold or jewels.
16 You deserve to lose your coat
if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
for the debt of a stranger.
17 The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
but it turns to gravel.
18 Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
or starting a war.
19 Stay away from gossips—
they tell everything.
20 Children who curse their parents
will go to the land of darkness
long before their time.
21 Getting rich quick
may turn out to be a curse.
22 Don't try to get even.
Trust the Lord,
and he will help you.
23 The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
So don't cheat!
24 How can we know
what will happen to us
when the Lord alone decides?
25 Don't fall into the trap
of making promises to God
before you think!
26 A wise ruler severely punishes
every criminal.
27 Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
and they search our hearts.
28 Rulers are protected
by God's mercy and loyalty,
but they must be merciful
for their kingdoms to last.
29 Young people take pride
in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
are even more beautiful.
30 A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
1 Nkumbi we zhambi n'dadi, busukwa go gwisanya,
koga iye unolaladziswa nazo aazotjenjela.
2 Bushongola gwa mambo gonga tjibombo tje shumba,
iye uno ntanga e n'gwadzisa moyo butjilo gugwe gumu mbatsha.
3 Kuna gudzo mu nthu kube kule ne kukwebakwebana,
koga tjilengwe tjimwe ne tjimwe tjowokwebakwebana.
4 Simbe aitolima mu tjibaka tje ndimo,
inowoshaka ikashaya tjainovuna mu zhizha.
5 Mano mu moyo we nthu anonga vula imu tshime lakangina,
koga nthu una hwisiso unoyitjela.
6 Bathu banjinji bana babanoti banobagalabgwe,
koga ndiyani ungawana iye unoyi una malebeswa?
7 Nlume wakalulwama unozwibhata ne thambunuko,
kwakakombolegwa bakololo babe banotobela zila iye!
8 Mambo unogala pa tjigalo tje kusumikilisa
unowulusa bubi gose nge mesho awe.
9 Ndiani ungati, “Nda thama moyo wangu ukabe mbuyanana,
ndi mbuyanana andina tjibi”?
10 Zwiyelo zwakasiyana ne zwilizanyo zwakasiyana,
zose zoshimisa kuna Yahwe.
11 Na iye mwana unozwizibisa nge zwiyito zwizwe,
kene zwili zwibuyanana kene zwakalulwama.
12 Zebe inohwa ne zhisho linobona,
zose zwakasikwa ndi Yahwe.
13 Uside hwope kuti ndizo usibe nshayi;
zhula mesho awo ngono unowana zwinojiwa zwinjinji.
14 “Kwakabipa, kwakabipa,” koleba ntengi,
koga ha edwa ipapo unozwiloba ifuba.
15 Kuna golide ne thundu ye mabgwe e themba ipezhugwi,
koga milomo inoleba zibo mibuya kupinda zose.
16 Mutole tjiambalo tje nthu unolipila ntaya,
ngaabe mbatshi we bataya.
17 Zojiwa zwawang'wa nge bupitipiti zo zipila nthu,
koga kudwa ipapo nlomo uwe unowozhala lushale.
18 Mano anothumbidziwa nge kulangana,
musa ngwa wa layiwa.
19 Iye unoyenda e nyeya unodusa zwikohwa,
ndizo usitongozwihwananya ne nthu unolebanya.
20 Iye unolonga tate babe kene mmeyabe bhiso,
luvone gugwe gowodzimiwa mu zhalima lakati zwititi.
21 Fumwa yakawang'wa ngolibilidza,
ayitowokombolegwa kubupelo.
22 Usitongoti, “Ndowo bgwiliza bubi ku bubi,”
milila Yahwe, banowokubhatsha.
23 Zwiyelo zwakasiyana zoshimisa kuna Yahwe,
ne zwiyelo zwe manyepkhwa azwizolulwama.
24 Thambo dze nthu dzolawugwa ndi Yahwe,
ndizo nthu ungahwisisa zila iye tjini?
25 Kumbatsha mu nthu kungoleba koga eti, “Kwakayengemala,”
ekokumbula shule asatongo alakana asathu ajalo.
26 Mambo wakatjenjela uno wulusa batjinyi,
ngono kabakwiya nge gumbgwana.
27 Meya ye nthu luvone gwa Yahwe,
gunoshakisisa mukati kukwe kose.
28 Ludo ne kugagwabgwe kotjengeta Mambo,
ne bugalo gugwe gosimisiwa nge ndulamo.
29 Gudzo le bazhuzha isimba labo,
koga bubuya gwe bathuntana mavudzi abo matjena.
30 Lobgwa kunokubadza kotata bubi,
shamu dzosuka mukati kwe nthu.