Mbuyilo ye butjenjedu
1 Imwi bakololo, ihwani kudiya kwa tate benyu,
mu bhulutane, kuti mube ne hwisiso,
2 ngobe ndomupa zwidiyo zwibuya
musilashe zwidiyo zwangu.
3 Ndakati ndili nkololo wa tate bangu,
nditji ntjetjana, ndili ndoga mwana muna mme,
4 tate bakandidiya beti kundili,
“Moyo uwo ubhate matama angu
londolodza milayo yangu, utjile.
5 Usikangang'we, kakale usifupatile matama e nlomo wangu.
Wana butjenjedu, uwane hwisiso.
6 Usitongolasha butjenjedu, gowokutjengeta
ugude gowokulinda.
7 Kutangisa kwe butjenjedu ndi woku, wana butjenjedu
na kose kwaunga wana, uwane hwisiso.
8 Ugukudze, gowokumilidzila pezhugwi
gowokukudza ha unga gugumbatila.
9 Gowokubigila tjiala tjakanaka mu nsholo uwo
guka kuambadza tjiala tje bubuya.”
10 Undihwe nkololo wangu, ngono uamutjile matama angu
kuti makole e butjilo gugo abe manjinji.
11 Ndakudiya zila ye butjenjedu
ndakutungamilila mu zila dzakatambunuka.
12 Ha uyenda, thambo dzidzo akuna tjingadzipinganyidza
kakale ha ulabuka, autowokuthiwa ne tjimwe.
13 Ubhate ndayo yangu, usitongoilasha
uitjengete, ndigo butjilo gugo.
14 Usingine mu zila ye babi
usiyende muzila ye bakabipa.
15 Usibe ne hanya nayo, usiitobele,
uileye uyende kwaunoyenda.
16 Ngobe abangayizele basathama tjimwe tjakabipa;
abangadzibone hwope kusina wabatjinyila.
17 Banoja zojiwa zwe mbipo
be ng'wa nkumbi we phipiti.
18 Zila ye bakalulwama inonga tjedza tje mazhokuyedza
tjinopaphidzika kuswikila masikati makulu.
19 Zila ye bathu babi inonga zhalima lakatizwititi,
abatoziba tjingabakutha muili.
20 Nkololo wangu, bhulutana matama angu,
teya zebe muna zwandinoleba.
21 Asitongodwa mu mesho awo,
uabhate nge moyo uwo.
22 Ngobe ndigo butjilo muna unoawana,
i bhodzo mu mbili uwe.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
23 Tjengeta moyo uwo nge butjenjedu,
ngobe kudwa muuli kowunga hwoba dze butjilo.
24 Dusa ndebo dzakaleyana mukuli
uduse ndebo dzakabipa mu nlomo uwo.
25 Mesho awo ngaalinge mbeli,
mesho awo alinge kwaunoyenda.
26 Yelanjele zila yaunotshamba muili,
ngono zila dzidzo dzose dzowotambunuka.
27 Usitongo pambukila kuluji kene ku lumeshwe,
tshedusa gumbo lilo muna zwakabipa.
Advice to Young People
1 My child, listen closely
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
2 My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
3 When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father 4 said to me:
“If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
5 Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.

6 “If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
7 The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
8 If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
9 It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.”
The Right Way and the Wrong Way
10 My child, if you listen
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
11 I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
12 Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
13 Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
14 Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
15 Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
16 They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong or harm
some innocent victim.
17 Their food and drink
are cruelty and wickedness.

18 The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
19 The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.

20 My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
21 Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
22 Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
23 Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
24 Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
25 Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
26 Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
27 Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.