1 Apa butjenjedu aguto danilila wali,
apa kuhwisisa akutomilidza hwi lako kene?
2 Mu matuthu hwunde ne zila,
mu zijana kotola mamo ako,
3 kubapa ne mikoba inongina mu nzi nkulu,
panongingwa ndipo kodanilila kuti,
4 “Ku muli, imwi balume, ndodanilila,
ngono kudanilila kwangu kwakalingisana ne bakololo be bathu.
5 Imwi basakatjenjela, muzwidiye butjenjedu,
imwi zwilengwe, teedzani.
6 Ihwani, ngoti ndowoleba zwina mongo,
mu milomo yangu kowobhuda zwakatambunuka,
7 ngobe nlomo wangu unowoleba lebeswa,
ngobe ndo shema manyepkhwa.
8 Matama wose anodwa mu nlomo wangu akalulwama,
akuna tjimwe tjakakombama kene tjakapeyama muali.
9 Akatambunuka wose kuna unohwisisa,
kakale akalulwamila kuna banowana luzibo.
10 Amutjila kulaya kwangu pana kushaka siliva,
ne luzibo pana kushalula golide,
11 ngobe butjenjedu gopinda maseka,
ngono kose kwaungayemula kube nako akungafanidzanyiwe nago,
12 imi, butjenjedu, ndogala ne hwisiso,
kakale ndowana luzibo ne nkumbulo wakalulwama.
13 Kutja Yahwe hwubenga mbipo.
Ndoshima mazwikudzo ne kuzwida ne zila yakabipa
ne ndebo dzakaleleka.
14 Ndina mano ne butjenjedu gwakati piti,
ndina hwisiso, ndina matatabuko.
15 Bomambo ba buse ndimi,
ne babusi banothama milayo yakatambununuka,
16 ne bakololo ba bomambo banobusa ndimi,
ne makombgwa banobusa shango.
17 Ndoda ibabo banondida,
ne banondishaka kwe malebeswa banondiwana.
18 Fumwa ne gudzo zwinami,
fumwa isingapele ne dwililombeli.
19 Ntjelo wangu unopinda golide yakakuyungiwa,
ne zwizwalo zwangu zo pinda siliva.
20 Ndoyenda yenda mu zila ye ndulamo,
mu zila dze kutambunuka,
21 ndikobela fumwa ibabo banondida,
kuti bazhadze matula abo.
22 Yahwe bakandisika mu kutangisa kwe nshingo wabo,
ndili mbano ye mishingo yabo ya ntolo.
23 Ndaka bigwa ntolo ntolo,
kutanga kusathu kukasikwa shango.
24 Ndakazwagwa kusathu kukabe ne makungwa,
kusathu kukabe ne misenya inoma vula.
25 Ndakazha kusathu kukasikwa matombo
ndakabe po matuthu asathu kasikwa,
26 basathu bakasika shango ne mituthu yayo,
kene naiyo hwuluba ye kutanga ye shango.
27 Bakati besika kudzimu, ndakabe ndilipo, ha bethama makungwa,
28 pa baka simisa zhuzhugwi,
pa bakabakilila makungwa,
29 pa bakabigila gungwa n'gathu
kuti vula isitongo pindilila,
pa bakatala thiwa dze shango,
30 ipapo ndakabe ndinabo, ndili phizha,
ndibashathisa zhuba ne zhuba,
ndipembela mbeli kwabo misi yose,
31 ndipembela mu shango yabo,
kakale ndishathila bakololo be bathu.
32 Ndizo, bakololo bangu, mu ndi teedze:
bakakombolegwa banolondolodza zila dzangu.
33 Ihwani ndayo dzangu mu tjenjele,
musitongo dzilashilila.
34 Wakakombolegwa nthu unondihwilila,
akalinda mazhuba wose pa mikoba yangu,
akalinda pawunde ye mikoba yangu.
35 Ngobe iye wandiwana unowana butjilo,
ngono unowana ludo muna Yahwe,
36 koga iye usingandiwane unozwikubadza;
bose banondibenga banoda lufu.”
In Praise of Wisdom
1 With great understanding,
Wisdom is calling out
2 as she stands at the crossroads
and on every hill.
3 She stands by the city gate
where everyone enters the city,
and she shouts:
4 “I am calling out
to each one of you!
5 Good sense and sound judgment
can be yours.
6 Listen, because what I say
is worthwhile and right.
7 I always speak the truth
and refuse to tell a lie.
8 Every word I speak is honest,
not one is misleading
or deceptive.
9 “If you have understanding,
you will see that my words
are just what you need.
10 Let instruction and knowledge
mean more to you than silver
or the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is worth much more
than precious jewels
or anything else you desire.”
Wisdom Speaks
12 I am Wisdom —Common Sense
is my closest friend;
I possess knowledge
and sound judgment.
13 If you respect the Lord,
you will hate evil.
I hate pride and conceit
and deceitful lies.
14 I am strong, and I offer
sensible advice
and sound judgment.
15 By my power kings govern,
and rulers make laws
that are fair.
16 Every honest leader rules
with help from me.
17 I love everyone who loves me,
and I will be found by all
who honestly search.
18 I can make you rich and famous,
important and successful.
19 What you receive from me
is more valuable
than even the finest gold
or the purest silver.
20 I always do what is right,
21 and I give great riches
to everyone who loves me.
22 From the beginning,
I was with the Lord.
I was there before he began
23 to create the earth.
At the very first,
the Lord gave life to me.
24 When I was born,
there were no oceans
or springs of water.
25 My birth was before
mountains were formed
or hills were put in place.
26 It happened long before God
had made the earth
or any of its fields
or even the dust.
27 I was there when the Lord
put the heavens in place
and stretched the sky
over the surface of the sea.
28 I was with him when he placed
the clouds in the sky
and created the springs
that fill the ocean.
29 I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
to make it obey him,
and when he laid foundations
to support the earth.
30 I was right beside the Lord,
helping him plan and build.
I made him happy each day,
and I was happy at his side.
31 I was pleased with his world
and pleased with its people.
32 Pay attention, my children!
Follow my advice,
and you will be happy.
33 Listen carefully
to my instructions,
and you will be wise.
34 Come to my home each day
and listen to me.
You will find happiness.
35 By finding me, you find life,
and the Lord will be pleased
with you.
36 But if you don't find me,
you hurt only yourself,
and if you hate me,
you are in love with death.