Jenjedzo limwe
1 Nkololo wangu, ha wakazwisunga kuti unowolipa ikoloto tje mbakidzani uwo,
wakagadzabgwe kubhatsha ntaya,
2 ha wabhatshigwa nge matama awaleba,
wabhakhwa mu matama e nlomo uwo,
3 tjithama woku, nkololo wangu kuti uzwitjidze
ngobe wabe mu simba le mbakidzani uwo,
tjimbidza unkumbile akusunungule.
4 Usitongo izelela ndebo iyeyi
usitshung'ayile ne kutukununu kose,
5 uzwitjidze se phala itizha mvimi,
se nyuni ipudzumuka mu luboko gwe nteyi.

6 Yenda ku jenetha simbe ndiwe
ubone sekwa linoshinga, u tjenjele.
7 Alina ntungamili
kene nlingili kene mbusi,
8 lolulwamisa zojiwa zwalo mu zhizha
likubunganya zojiwa zwalo mu tjibaka tje kuvuna.
9 Unowolala ipapo kuswikila lini, simbe ndiwe?
Unowomuka mu hwope dzidzo lini kene?
10 Kuyizela kushomanana, kutshung'ayila kushomanana
kufukata maboko nthu eti unonyaluluka,
11 saikoko bushayi gowozha se mbava,
kusheta kukuwila se nthu wakadedela zwibhayano.

12 Nthu usina nshingo, nthu mbiimbi,
unoyenda eleba ndebo dzisakatambunuka,
13 eti volivoli mesho, etendeka
ne makumbo ne tjinyala tjitje,
14 ne moyo usakalulwama unoluka zwakayipa,
etombelela edzwala sahwanana,
15 ndizo wali unotjimbidza ngina mu mbatsha,
mu tjibakanyana unowogwala gusina ndapo.

16 Kuna zwithu zwitathatu zwinobengiwa ndi Yahwe,
zwili kutendeka zwabanoshima,
17 mesho ana mazwikudzo, lulimi gunonyepa,
ne maboko anotebula lopa lisina nlandu,
18 moyo unoluka mano mabiibi,
makumbo anolabuka elibilidzila kunotjinya
19 ne nyepi unopa butendeki gwe manyepkhwa
ne nthu unogwisanya bana be nthu.

20 Nkololo wangu, londolodza nlayo wa tate babo,
kakale usilashe zwidiyo zwa mme babo.
21 Zwigale mu moyo uwo mu zwibaka zose,
uzwisungile mu ntshibha uwo.
22 Ha uyenda zowokutungamila,
ha uizela zowokulinda,
kakale ha umuka zowolebeleka nawe.
23 Ngobe nlayo luvone kakale zwidiyo i tjedza,
ne kutjemegwa mu butjilo nlenje we butjilo,
24 kukubakilila mu nkadzi mbiimbi,
ungakutjebela nge lulimi gwe bubamba.
25 Usitongo yemula bubuya gugwe,
usi nletje akakuweba nge mesho awe,
26 ngobe fukula inotengwa nge tjiwunga
koga phombgwekadzi inolonga bushayi butjilo gwe nlume.
27 Apa nthu ungasenga moto ne hapkhwa,
ukasi mpisile zwiambalo kene?
28 Kene nthu ungayenda mu masimbe anopisa
makumbo awe akasitshwe kene?
29 Kwakajalo koga ne nthu unowalilana ne nkadzi we mbakidzani uwe,
akuna unonbhata ungasalobgwa shamu.

30 Apa bathu abatolingila pasi mbava
inokwiba kuzwigutsha ha ina zhala kene?
31 Koga ha ibhakhwa, inowolipa katendeka,
inowolipa nge thundu yose yainayo.
32 Iye unothama bupombgwe aana njalakang'wa,
iye unothama ikoko unozwibulaya.
33 Mbonje ne shoni ndizo zwaanowowana
ne kulengudzika kukwe akutowofa kwapela.
34 Ndandala inothama kuti nlume abe ne bushongola
kakale aatowoshalula ha ebgwilizila.
35 Aatowoamutjila ndipo
kene kushathisiwa nge zwipo zwinjinji.
Don't Be Foolish
1 My child, suppose you agree
to pay the debt of someone,
who cannot repay a loan.
2 Then you are trapped
by your own words,
3 and you are now in the power
of someone else.
Here is what you should do:
Go and beg for permission
to call off the agreement.
4 Do this before you fall asleep
or even get sleepy.
5 Save yourself, just as a deer
or a bird tries to escape
from a hunter.

6 You lazy people can learn
by watching an anthill.
7 Ants don't have leaders,
8 but they store up food
during harvest season.
9 How long will you lie there
doing nothing at all?
When are you going to get up
and stop sleeping?
10 Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.
11 Suddenly, everything is gone,
as though it had been taken
by an armed robber.

12 Worthless liars go around
13 winking and giving signals
to deceive others.
14 They are always thinking up
something cruel and evil,
and they stir up trouble.
15 But they will be struck
by sudden disaster
and left without a hope.

16 There are six or seven
kinds of people
the Lord doesn't like:
17 Those who are too proud
or tell lies or murder,
18 those who make evil plans
or are quick to do wrong,
19 those who tell lies in court
or stir up trouble
in a family.

20 Obey the teaching
of your parents—
21 always keep it in mind
and never forget it.
22 Their teaching will guide you
when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
and talk to you
when you are awake.

23 The Law of the Lord is a lamp,
and its teachings
shine brightly.
Correction and self-control
will lead you through life.
24 They will protect you
from the flattering words
of someone else's wife.
25 Don't let yourself be attracted
by the charm and lovely eyes
of someone like that.
26 A woman who sells her love
can be bought for as little
as the price of a meal.
But making love
to another man's wife
will cost you everything.
27 If you carry burning coals,
you burn your clothes;
28 if you step on hot coals,
you burn your feet.
29 And if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you pay the price.

30 We don't put up with thieves,
not even with one who steals
for something to eat.
31 And thieves who get caught
must pay back
seven times what was stolen
and lose everything.
32 But if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you will destroy yourself
by your own stupidity.
33 You will be beaten
and forever disgraced,
34 because a jealous husband
can be furious and merciless
when he takes revenge.
35 He won't let you pay him off,
no matter what you offer.