Mamwe makungulupeswa a Solomoni
1 Iyawa naiwobo makungulupeswa a Solomoni akati balume ba Hezeki'ah mambo we Juda kaayedza.
2 I gudzo le Ndzimu kusumbika zwithu,
koga gudzo la bomambo wushakisisa zwithu.
3 Se kudzimu kuli zhuzhugwi, ne shango yakangina,
saikoko mikumbulo ya bomambo ayitoshakisisika.
4 Dusa manye mu siliva,
kuti nthuli abe ne tjinobumba tjija,
5 dusila kutjena babiibi mbeli kwa mambo,
ndizo tjigalo tjitje tje bumambo tjowothumbidzigwa mu ndulamo.
6 Usitongozwikudza mu mesho a mambo,
kene ukazwibiga mu mamo e bakulu,
7 ngobe koyita kuti udwiwe kuyi, “Tathila ngeno,”
pana kuti u yisiwe pasi mbeli kwe nkololo wa mambo.
Tjawabona ne mesho awo
8 usitongo tjimbidza watjizhisa ku lubazhe,
ngobe unowothama tjini mu bupelo,
ha mbakidzani uwo ekubhatisa shoni?
9 Lebelekani ndebo yenyu ne mbakidzani uwo,
kakale musilebululane,
10 kungadwa kukati iye unomuhwa kamubhatisa shoni,
ngono kulengudzika kuko kukasipele.
11 Dama linolebgwa tjibaka tjakafanila,
lofanana ne maapuli e golide mu ndilo ye siliva.
12 Se ng'ina le golide kene ndalama ye golide
konga se ntjemeli wakatjenjela ku zebe inohwa.
13 Se kapuku tjinotothola mu tjibaka tje kuvuna
ntumwa we malebeswa kuna ibabo banontuma,
nekuti uno nayisa meya ya botetshi babe.
14 Nthu uno babgwa ne tjipo tjaasingape
unonga makole ne phepo asina vula.
15 Mbusi unotubugwa nge bana moyonlefu,
ne lulimi bunyolo govuna fupa.
16 Ha wawana butji gwe nyutji, uje kwaka ku lizana,
ngobe ungadwa ukazwimbigwa ube uthwa.
17 Usiwolobele kugala wakayenda ku nzi we mbakisani uwo,
ngobe ungadwa kanyala nge kuko ebe ekubenga.
18 Nthu unopa butendeki gwe manyepkhwa ngekwe mbakidzani uwe,
unonga swimbo kene bukanu kene nsebe unopitsha.
19 Kugalabgwe mu nthu usingagalemoyo mu tjibaka tje manikano
konga zhino lakabola kene gumbo lakalewuka.
20 Nthu unombila njimbo moyo una buyendasi
unonga nthu unombula zwiambalo mu zhuba linopota,
kene unonga vinega yadigwa mu banga.
21 Ha mbengi uwo anazhala, umpe zojiwa aje,
ne ha ananyota umpe vula ang'we,
22 kujalo unobe wabutitika masimbe anopisa mu nsholo uwe,
ndizo Yahwe banowokupa mbhayilo.
23 Phepo ye bunandzwa inozhisa vula,
ne lulimi gunonyeya gozhisa tjiso tjizhele bushongola.
24 Koyita kugala pa n'dzibo we denga le ng'umba
pana kugala mu ng'umba ne nkadzi una zhoba.
25 Thawu dzakanaka dzinodwa kulekule,
dzonga vula inotothola ku meya ina nyota.
26 Nthu lulwama unosedzela babi,
unonga dziba lina dope kene nsenya wakadzongeka.
27 Akuzonaka kuja butji bunjisa,
kene kuda kukudziwa kwazo.
28 Nthu usingatubule kuzwidziba,
unonga nzi nkulu wakanginiligwa ube usiyiwa usina luswingo.
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.