1 Zina buya lakafanilo shalugwa kupinda fumwa njinji,
ne ludo gopinda siliva ne golide.
2 Bafumi ne bashayi banoshangana pathu pang'ompela,
Yahwe ndibo bakabasika bose.
3 Nthu wakatjenjela unobona mbatsha kabgwata,
koga tjilengwe tjodwilila koga tjiwila mu mbatsha.
4 Mbhayilo we kuzwiyesapasi ne kutja Yahwe,
ifumwa ne gudzo ne butjilo.
5 Mihwa ne matati amu zila ye basakalulwama,
iye unozwitjengeta unowobe kule nazo.
6 Diya mwana zila yaakafanila kutobela,
ndizo ha akula aatobhuda muili.
7 Nfumi unobusa nshayi,
ne unoadzimiwa nlanda we wan'adzima.
8 Iye unodzwala mbipo unowovuna tjiga,
ngono shamu ye bushongola gugwe inowokong'wa.
9 Iye una lubu unowokombolegwa,
ngobe unokwamulana tjiwunga tjitje ne bashayi.
10 Tatila ndadi kutjena, ngono kukwebakwebana kowopela,
ne kukayikana ne tshambilidzo zowoma.
11 Iye unoda moyo mbuyanana, ne unoleba nge bubuya,
unowobe nzwalani wa Mambo.
12 Mesho a Yahwe anotjengeta luzibo,
koga banolasha matama e basingagale moyo.
13 Simbe inoti, “Kuna shuba kuzhe!
Ndowo bulawa mu zila!”
14 Nlomo we nkadzi we bamba i gomba lakangina,
iye wakagwadzigwamoyo ndi Yahwe unowowila mu lili.
15 Bulengwe gwakasungiligwa mu moyo we mwana,
koga shamu ye kunlaya inogudusila kutjena naye.
16 Iye unotshambilidza bashayi kuzwipaphidzila fumwa,
kene kupa bafumi unowobe nshayi nge kukwe.
17 Teya zebe uhwe matama e wakatjenjela,
ube ubhulutana luzibo gwangu;
18 ngobe kowokushathisa ha ugala nazo mu moyo uwo,
kakale zwigale zwili pejo ne nlomo uwo.
19 Kuti kugalabgwe kuko kube muna Yahwe,
ndakuzibisa izo nasi, iwe dumbu.
20 Apa andizokukwalila makungulupeswa ali makumi matatu
anokumbuludza ne luzibo kene,
21 kukulakidza tjakatambunuka tjili malebeswa,
ndizo kuti upe bakakutuma shandulo ye malebeswa?
22 Usitolele nshayi, ngobe ali nshayi,
kene kutshamba unosheta mu lubazhe,
23 ngobe Yahwe banowobamila,
kabuya katjinyidzila butjilo ibabo banobatjinyidzila.
24 Usitongozwizwadzanya ne nthu unoda gala akagwadzamoyo,
kene ukayenda ne nthu una shungu,
25 udwa uzwidiya zila dzidze,
udwa uzwiwana wawila mu dati.
26 Usitongobe mmwe we banogadzabgwe kupa,
bezwisungila zwikoloto.
27 Ha usina tjimwe tjaunga lipa nditjo,
unotolelegwani thobo dzidzo kusi kuko?
28 Usitongodusa n'gathu wa ntolo
wakathamiwa na botate babo.
29 Unobona nthu unyambi mu nshingo uwe kene?
Unowoma mbeli kwa bomambo,
aangame mbeli kwe bathu basina ntutshi.
The Value of a Good Reputation
1 A good reputation and respect
are worth much more
than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor
are all created
by the Lord.
3 When you see trouble coming,
don't be stupid
and walk right into it—
be smart and hide.
4 Respect and serve the Lord!
Your reward will be wealth,
a long life, and honor.
5 Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
Stay away from there!
6 Teach your children
right from wrong,
and when they are grown
they will still do right.
7 The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.
8 Troublemakers get in trouble,
and their terrible anger
will get them nowhere.
9 The Lord blesses everyone
who freely gives food
to the poor.
10 Arguments and fights
will come to an end,
if you chase away those
who insult others.
11 The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
and speak with kindness.
12 The Lord watches over everyone
who shows good sense,
but he frustrates the plans
of deceitful liars.
13 Don't be so lazy that you say,
“If I go to work,
a lion will eat me!”
14 The words of a bad woman
are like a deep pit;
if you make the Lord angry,
you will fall right in.
15 All children are foolish,
but firm correction
will make them change.
16 Cheat the poor to make profit
or give gifts to the rich—
either way you lose.
Thirty Wise Sayings
17 Here are some sayings
of people with wisdom,
so listen carefully
as I teach.
18 You will be glad
that you know these sayings
and can recite them.
19 I am teaching them today,
so that you
may trust the Lord.
20 I have written thirty sayings
filled with sound advice.
21 You can trust them completely
to give you the right words
for those in charge of you.
–1–
22 Don't take advantage
of the poor
or cheat them in court.
23 The Lord is their defender,
and what you do to them,
he will do to you.
–2–
24 Don't make friends with anyone
who has a bad temper.
25 You might turn out like them
and get caught in a trap.
–3–
26 Don't guarantee to pay
someone else's debt.
27 If you don't have the money,
you might lose your bed.
–4–
28 Don't move a boundary marker
set up by your ancestors.
–5–
29 If you do your job well,
you will work for a ruler
and never be a slave.