1 Butjenjedu gobaka ng'umba yago,
koga bulengwe ne maboko ago gukaikolomola,
2 Iye unoyenda nge thambunuko unotja Yahwe,
koga iye we zila dzakamonana unobalingila pasi.
3 Ndebo dze tjilengwe dzotjizhisila shamu mu ikamba tjatjo,
koga milomo ye batjenjedu inowobabakilila.
4 Pasina ng'ombe akuna mathunde,
koga mathunde manji anozhisiwa nge simba le ng'ombe.
5 Ntendeki unogalikabwe aatonyepa,
koga ntendeki we manyepkhwa unofema manyepkhwa.
6 Ndadi unoshakila butjenjedu suli,
koga luzibo gotjimbidza wanika ku nthu unohwisisa.
7 Thubukana ne tjilengwe,
ngobe atjina luzibo gwatjinga kupa.
8 Butjenjedu gwe wakatjenjela wulingisisa zila iye,
koga bulengwe gwe zwilengwe hwutjebela.
9 Ndzimu unoshima bathu babi,
koga unoda bakalulwama.
10 Moyo unoziba kugwadziwa kwawo,
kakale akuna wakashanganyila shatho nawo.
11 Ng'umba ye babi inowokolomogwa,
koga nshasha we bakatambunuka unowobhudilila.
12 Kuna zila inolingika yakatambunuka ku nthu,
koga bhelelo layo i zila ye lufu.
13 Moyo unohwa zogwadza ne mu tjiseko
ne bhelelo le shatho tjililo.
14 Nthu we meya mibi unogutshiwa nge mitjelo ye zwiyito zwizwe,
nlulwami naiye unogutshiwa nge mitjelo ye mishingo iye.
15 Tjilengwe tjoduma tjimwe ne tjimwe,
koga ntjenjedu unolinga kwaanoyenda.
16 Ntjenjedu unotja zwakabipa ebe ezwileya,
koga tjilengwe tjopaparika atjina njele.
17 Nthu una moywana unotjimbidza ayita zwithu nge bulengwe,
koga nthu unoluka mano mabi unobengwa.
18 Zwilengwe zowana thaka ye bulengwe,
koga bakatjenjela banoambadzwa tjiala tje luzibo.
19 Bathu babi banothigama mbeli kwe balulwami,
babi banothigama pa mikoba ye mizi ye bakalulwama.
20 Nshayi aatodiwa nenge mbakidzani naye dumbu,
koga nfumi una bazwalani basi bashoma.
21 Iye unolingila pasi mbakidzani naye ntjinyi,
koga una ludo mu bashayi una kushatha.
22 Ibo banoluka mano akabipa abatolashika kene?
Ibabo banoluka mano mabuya banogalikabgwe.
23 Kushinga kwazo kose kuna mbayilo,
koga balabala nge nlomo koyisa ku bushayi.
24 Tjiala tje bakatjenjela butjenjedu gwabo,
koga mbuyilo ye zwilengwe bulengwe gwazo.
25 Ntendeki we malebeswa unotjidza bathu,
koga unoleba manyepkhwa ntjebeli.
26 Mu kutja Yahwe nthu una kugalabgwe kwakasima,
ne bana babe banowobe ne dizhilo.
27 Kutja Yahwe nsenya we butjilo,
kuti nthu aleye dati le lufu.
28 Bukulu gwa Mambo goboneka nge bunjinji gwe bathu,
koga pasina bathu nkololo wa mambo unokolomoka.
29 Iye usingagwadze moyo tjinyolotjo una hwisiso hwulu,
koga unotjimbidza kupkhwita moyo unopaphidza bulengwe.
30 Meya yakatebama inopa butjilo mu mbili,
koga tjiba dzobodza mafupa.
31 Iye unotshambilidza nshayi unotuka Mbumbi uwe,
koga iye una ngoni ku bashayi unokudza Ndzimu.
32 Mbiimbi unowolashiwa ngekushinga bubi kukwe,
koga nlulwami unowana dizhilo ngekushinga zwibuya kukwe.
33 Butjenjedu gogala mu nkumbulo we nthu una njele,
koga mu mimoyo ye zwilengwe agutozibgwa.
34 Ndulamo inokudza ludzi,
koga tjibi mabhatisashoni mu ludzi gupi kene gupi.
35 Nlanda unoshinga zwibuya akatjenjela unodika kuna mambo,
koga usinga shinge nge butjenjedu unozwibengesa mambo.
Wisdom Makes Good Sense
1 A woman's family
is held together
by her wisdom,
but it can be destroyed
by her foolishness.
2 By living right, you show
that you respect the Lord;
by being deceitful, you show
that you despise him.
3 Proud fools are punished
for their stupid talk,
but sensible talk
can save your life.
4 Without the help of an ox
there can be no crop,
but with a strong ox
a big crop is possible.
5 An honest witness
tells the truth;
a dishonest witness
tells nothing but lies.
6 Make fun of wisdom,
and you will never find it.
But if you have understanding,
knowledge comes easily.
7 Stay away from fools,
or you won't learn a thing.
8 Wise people have enough sense
to find their way,
but stupid fools get lost.
9 Fools don't care
if they are wrong,
but God is pleased
when people do right.
10 No one else can really know
how sad or happy you are.
11 The tent of a good person
stands longer than the house
of someone evil.
12 You may think you are
on the right road
and still end up dead.
13 Sorrow may hide
behind laughter,
and happiness may end
in sorrow.
14 You harvest what you plant,
whether good or bad.
15 Don't be stupid
and believe all you hear;
be smart and know
where you are headed.
16 Only a stupid fool
is never cautious—
so be extra careful
and stay out of trouble.
17 Fools have quick tempers,
and no one likes you
if you can't be trusted.
18 Stupidity leads to foolishness;
be smart and learn.
19 The wicked will come crawling
to those who obey God.
20 You have no friends
if you are poor,
but you have lots of friends
if you are rich.
21 It's wrong to hate others,
but God blesses everyone
who is kind to the poor.
22 It's a mistake
to make evil plans,
but you will have loyal friends
if you want to do right.
23 Hard work is worthwhile,
but empty talk
will make you poor.
24 Wisdom can make you rich,
but foolishness leads
to more foolishness.
25 An honest witness
can save your life,
but liars can't be trusted.
26 If you respect the Lord,
you and your children
have a strong fortress
27 and a life-giving fountain
that keeps you safe
from deadly traps.
28 Rulers of powerful nations
are held in honor;
rulers of weak nations
are nothing at all.
29 It's smart to be patient,
but it's stupid
to lose your temper.
30 It's healthy to be content,
but envy can eat you up.
31 If you mistreat the poor,
you insult your Creator;
if you are kind to them,
you show him respect.
32 In times of trouble
the wicked are destroyed,
but even at death
the innocent have faith.
33 Wisdom is found in the minds
of people with good sense,
but fools don't know it.
34 Doing right brings honor
to a nation,
but sin brings disgrace.
35 Kings reward servants
who act wisely,
but they punish those
who act foolishly.