1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. 10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it ? 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
1 Koyita kuja ikwamu tje tjiwunga tjakawomelela
pana ng'umba izhele zojiwa koga kugwiwa.
2 Nlanda unoshinga ne butjenjedu unowobusa nkololo unoshinga zwinobhatisa shoni,
kakale unowobe ne gobe le thaka se mmwe we bakololo.
3 Bhisilo ngele siliva ne vutho ngeye golide,
ngono Yahwe banolika mimoyo.
4 Nthu unoshinga zwakabipa unoteedza milomo mibiibi,
ne n'nyepi unoteyedza kululimi gwakaleleka.
5 Iye unoseka nshayi unotuka Ndzimu uwe;
na iye unodadila bashayi unotuka mbumbi uwe.
6 Zwizekugwana tjiala tje kwegulu,
ne gudzo le bakololo ndi botate babo.
7 Bunyambi gwe ndebo agutofanila tjilengwe,
koga seleba manyephwa kusingafanile nlauli.
8 Tjizwimbanlomo tjonga bgwe lakanaka le masalamusi mu mesho e unolikoba,
pamwe ne pamwe paanotendebukila unobhudilila.
9 Nthu unozwiyibhatigwa mmwe unoshaka ludo,
koga iye unomusa ndebo unopaladza bazwalani.
10 Kutjemegwa kongina mu nthu unohwisisa,
kupinda shamu dzili zana mu tjilengwe.
11 Nthu mbi tjaanoshaka koga bupanduki,
ndizo unowotumigwa ntumwa una moyo nkukutu.
12 Koyita kuti nthu ashangane ne bhira latolegwa bana,
pana kushangana ne tjilengwe mu bulengwe gwatjo.
13 Ha nthu e bgwiliza bubi nge bubuya,
bubi agutowosiya nsha uwe.
14 Kutangisa kwe kukwebakwebana konga wazhulila vula ye damu,
ndizo misa kukwebakwebana kusathu kukatangisa.
15 Iye unobona mbi akatambunuka ebe e bona nlandu nlulwami,
bose banofanana nge kushimisa Yahwe.
16 Kobhatshani wali kuti tjilengwe tjibhate mari nge luboko tjitenga butjenjedu,
koga tjisina nkumbulo?
17 Nzwalani unoda muzwibaka zose,
ne nkololo wa tate wakazwaligwa nsi usakanaka.
18 Nthu usina nkumbulo unozwisunga nge kutuna,
eti unowolipila mbakidzani naye.
19 Unoda tjinya unoda kukwebakwebana,
iye unothama nkoba uwe eumilidzila pezhugwi unoshaka golomodzo.
20 Nthu una meya mbi aatobhudilila,
ne una lulimi gusakalulwama unowila mu mbatsha.
21 Nkololo we tjilengwe unozhisa shungu kuna tate babe,
tate be tjilengwe abana kushatha.
22 Moyo wakashatha nti unopodza,
koga moyo wakapuna unotema mafupa.
23 Nthu mbiimbi unoamutjila tjizwimba nlomo,
kupeyamisa tjakatambunuka.
24 Nlume una kuhwisisa unozwilingisanya ne butjenjedu,
koga mesho e tjilengwe aku phelelo dze shango.
25 Nkololo we tjilengwe unolonga tate babe shungu,
ne kuhwisa zogwadza mayi bakazwala.
26 Kulipisa nlulwani akuzolulwama;
kuloba makombgwa akuzolulwama.
27 Unoshalula matama una luzibo,
ne wakatebamisa meya nthu unohwisisa.
28 Naitjo tjilengwe tjinozwinyalalila tjotogwa se ntjenjedu,
ha emuma nlomo uwe unotogwa se wakatjenjela.