More of Solomon's Wise Sayings
1 Here are some more
of Solomon's proverbs.
They were copied by the officials
of King Hezekiah of Judah.
2 God is praised
for being mysterious;
rulers are praised
for explaining mysteries.
3 Who can fully understand
the thoughts of a ruler?
They reach beyond the sky
and go deep in the earth.
4 Silver must be purified
before it can be used
to make something of value.
5 Evil people must be removed
before anyone can rule
with justice.
6 Don't try to seem important
in the court of a ruler.
7 It's better for the ruler
to give you a high position
than for you to be embarrassed
in front of royal officials.
Be sure you are right
8 before you sue someone,
or you might lose your case
and be embarrassed.
9 When you and someone else
can't get along,
don't gossip about it.
10 Others will find out,
and your reputation
will then be ruined.
11 The right word
at the right time
is like precious gold
set in silver.
12 Listening to good advice
is worth much more
than jewelry made of gold.
13 A messenger you can trust
is just as refreshing
as cool water in summer.
14 Broken promises
are worse than rain clouds
that don't bring rain.
15 Patience and gentle talk
can convince a ruler
and overcome any problem.
16 Eating too much honey
can make you sick.
17 Don't visit friends too often,
or they will get tired of it
and start hating you.
18 Telling lies about friends
is like attacking them
with clubs and swords
and sharp arrows.
19 A friend you can't trust
in times of trouble
is like having a toothache
or a sore foot.
20 Singing to someone
in deep sorrow
is like pouring vinegar
in an open cut.
21 If your enemies are hungry,
give them something to eat.
And if they are thirsty,
give them something
to drink.
22 This will be the same
as piling burning coals
on their heads.
And the Lord
will reward you.
23 As surely as rain blows in
from the north,
anger is caused
by cruel words.
24 It's better to stay outside
on the roof of your house
than to live inside
with a nagging wife.
25 Good news from far away
refreshes like cold water
when you are thirsty.
26 When a good person gives in
to the wicked,
it's like dumping garbage
in a stream of clear water.
27 Don't eat too much honey
or always want praise.
28 Losing self-control
leaves you as helpless
as a city without a wall.
Mamwe makungulupeswa a Solomoni
1 Iyawa naiwobo makungulupeswa a Solomoni akati balume ba Hezeki'ah mambo we Juda kaayedza.
2 I gudzo le Ndzimu kusumbika zwithu,
koga gudzo la bomambo wushakisisa zwithu.
3 Se kudzimu kuli zhuzhugwi, ne shango yakangina,
saikoko mikumbulo ya bomambo ayitoshakisisika.
4 Dusa manye mu siliva,
kuti nthuli abe ne tjinobumba tjija,
5 dusila kutjena babiibi mbeli kwa mambo,
ndizo tjigalo tjitje tje bumambo tjowothumbidzigwa mu ndulamo.
6 Usitongozwikudza mu mesho a mambo,
kene ukazwibiga mu mamo e bakulu,
7 ngobe koyita kuti udwiwe kuyi, “Tathila ngeno,”
pana kuti u yisiwe pasi mbeli kwe nkololo wa mambo.
Tjawabona ne mesho awo
8 usitongo tjimbidza watjizhisa ku lubazhe,
ngobe unowothama tjini mu bupelo,
ha mbakidzani uwo ekubhatisa shoni?
9 Lebelekani ndebo yenyu ne mbakidzani uwo,
kakale musilebululane,
10 kungadwa kukati iye unomuhwa kamubhatisa shoni,
ngono kulengudzika kuko kukasipele.
11 Dama linolebgwa tjibaka tjakafanila,
lofanana ne maapuli e golide mu ndilo ye siliva.
12 Se ng'ina le golide kene ndalama ye golide
konga se ntjemeli wakatjenjela ku zebe inohwa.
13 Se kapuku tjinotothola mu tjibaka tje kuvuna
ntumwa we malebeswa kuna ibabo banontuma,
nekuti uno nayisa meya ya botetshi babe.
14 Nthu uno babgwa ne tjipo tjaasingape
unonga makole ne phepo asina vula.
15 Mbusi unotubugwa nge bana moyonlefu,
ne lulimi bunyolo govuna fupa.
16 Ha wawana butji gwe nyutji, uje kwaka ku lizana,
ngobe ungadwa ukazwimbigwa ube uthwa.
17 Usiwolobele kugala wakayenda ku nzi we mbakisani uwo,
ngobe ungadwa kanyala nge kuko ebe ekubenga.
18 Nthu unopa butendeki gwe manyepkhwa ngekwe mbakidzani uwe,
unonga swimbo kene bukanu kene nsebe unopitsha.
19 Kugalabgwe mu nthu usingagalemoyo mu tjibaka tje manikano
konga zhino lakabola kene gumbo lakalewuka.
20 Nthu unombila njimbo moyo una buyendasi
unonga nthu unombula zwiambalo mu zhuba linopota,
kene unonga vinega yadigwa mu banga.
21 Ha mbengi uwo anazhala, umpe zojiwa aje,
ne ha ananyota umpe vula ang'we,
22 kujalo unobe wabutitika masimbe anopisa mu nsholo uwe,
ndizo Yahwe banowokupa mbhayilo.
23 Phepo ye bunandzwa inozhisa vula,
ne lulimi gunonyeya gozhisa tjiso tjizhele bushongola.
24 Koyita kugala pa n'dzibo we denga le ng'umba
pana kugala mu ng'umba ne nkadzi una zhoba.
25 Thawu dzakanaka dzinodwa kulekule,
dzonga vula inotothola ku meya ina nyota.
26 Nthu lulwama unosedzela babi,
unonga dziba lina dope kene nsenya wakadzongeka.
27 Akuzonaka kuja butji bunjisa,
kene kuda kukudziwa kwazo.
28 Nthu usingatubule kuzwidziba,
unonga nzi nkulu wakanginiligwa ube usiyiwa usina luswingo.