1 Iye unogala e tjemegwa koga ewomesa ntshibha
unowotjimbidza akolomodziwa kusina bhatsho.
2 Ha balulwami bebusa, bathu banoshatha,
koga ha ku busa babiibi, bathu banogomela.
3 Iye unoda butjenjedu unoshathisa tate babe,
koga iye unozwizwadzanya ne fukula unozwitjinyila fumwa.
4 Nge kutambunuka mambo unogadzikanya shango,
koga iye unoshaka zwipo unoyishakadza.
5 Nthu unotjengedza mbakidzani uwe
unowalila makumbo awe gwanga.
6 Nthu mbi unobhatshigwa mu tjibi tjitje,
koga nthu wakalulwama unomba kapululudza.
7 Nthu wakalulwama unoziba fanilo dze bashayi,
koga nthu mbi aana hanya nazo.
8 Badadi banopisa nzi nkulu,
koga bathu bakatjenjela banodzima bushongola.
9 Ha ntjenjedu eseka ne tjilengwe,
tjilengwe itjo tjopengapenga tjikaseka ngono akuna kunyalala.
10 Bathu banotebula lopa banoshima nthu usina nlandu,
ne babiibi banoshaka lufu gugwe.
11 Tjilengwe tjodusa bushongola gwatjo gose,
koga ntjenjedu unozwibhata.
12 Ha mbusi e teedza manyepkhwa,
makombgwa awe wose anowobe mabiibi.
13 Nshayi ne ntshambilidzi banofanana,
Yahwe banobapa tjedza tje mesho bose.
14 Ha mambo esumikilisa bashayi nge kulizalizana,
bumambo gugwe gowothumbidziwa kusingapele.
15 Shamu ne kutjemela zopa butjenjedu,
koga mwana usinga tjemegwe unobhatisa mmeyabe shoni.
16 Ha babiibi bali mu mbuso, tjibi tjowanda,
koga balulwami banowobona kuwa kwabo.
17 Tjemela nkololo uwo, unowokupa kunyaluluka,
unowoshathisa moyo uwo.
18 Pasina bulebesambeli bathu abatozwibhata,
koga wakakombolegwa iye unolondolodza nlayo.
19 Nlanda aatotjemeleka nge mahwi koga,
nenguba e hwisisa aana hanya nazo.
20 Unobona nthu wakatungamidza leba?
Tjilengwe tjoyita panli.
21 Iye unolela nlanda nge kunlema kudwa mu butjetjana,
ku bupelo unowowana abe n'galithaka uwe.
22 Nthu una bushongola unomusa ngwa,
ne nthu unoda gwadzamoyo unodzwala bubi bunjinji.
23 Mazwikudzo enthu anon'yisa pasi,
koga iye wakatebama mu meya unowowana gudzo.
24 Nkwinya we mbava unoshima butjilo gugwe,
unohwa bhiso, koga aana tjaangaleba,
25 kutja nthu hwuteya dati,
koga iye uno galabgwe muna Yahwe wakatjengeteka.
26 Bali banjinji banoshaka ludo gwe mbusi,
koga kudwa kuna Yahwe nthu unowana kutambunuka.
27 Nthu usakatambunuka unoshimisa ku nlulwami,
koga iye wakatambunuka unoshimisa ku babiibi.
Use Good Sense
1 If you keep being stubborn
after many warnings,
you will suddenly discover
you have gone too far.
2 When justice rules a nation,
everyone is glad;
when injustice rules,
everyone groans.
3 If you love wisdom
your parents will be glad,
but chasing after bad women
will cost you everything.
4 An honest ruler
makes the nation strong;
a ruler who takes bribes
will bring it to ruin.
5 Flattery is nothing less
than setting a trap.
6 Your sins will catch you,
but everyone who lives right
will sing and celebrate.
7 The wicked don't care
about the rights of the poor,
but good people do.
8 Sneering at others is a spark
that sets a city on fire;
using good sense can put out
the flames of anger.
9 Be wise and don't sue a fool.
You won't get satisfaction,
because all the fool will do
is sneer and shout.
10 A murderer hates everyone
who is honest
and lives right.
11 Don't be a fool
and quickly lose your temper—
be sensible and patient.
12 A ruler who listens to lies
will have corrupt officials.
13 The poor and all who abuse them
must each depend on God
for light.
14 Kings who are fair to the poor
will rule a long time.
15 Correct your children,
and they will be wise;
children out of control
disgrace their mothers.
16 Crime increases
when crooks are in power,
but law-abiding citizens
will see them fall.
17 If you correct your children,
they will bring you peace
and happiness.
18 Without guidance from God
law and order disappear,
but God blesses everyone
who obeys his Law.
19 Even when servants are smart,
it takes more than words
to make them obey.
20 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who speaks
without thinking.
21 Slaves that you treat kindly
from their childhood
will cause you sorrow.
22 A person with a quick temper
stirs up arguments
and commits a lot of sins.
23 Too much pride brings disgrace;
humility leads to honor.
24 If you take part in a crime
you are your worst enemy,
because even under oath
you can't tell the truth.
25 Don't fall into the trap
of being a coward—
trust the Lord,
and you will be safe.
26 Many try to make friends
with a ruler,
but justice comes
from the Lord.
27 Good people and criminals
can't stand each other.