1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him . 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. 10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him , yet thou must do it again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. 24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
1 Nshayi unotjilila mu malebeswa
unoyita pa nthu unolebela ntome ngono ali tjilengwe.
2 Akuzonaka kuti nthu ashaye luzibo,
ne nthu unoyenda eyendisa unoleya zila.
3 Ha bulengwe gwe nthu gu tjinya zila iye,
moyo uwe unogwadzila Yahwe.
4 Fumwa inozhisa bazwalani batshwa banjinji,
koga nshayi unosiyiwa nge nzwalani.
5 Ntendeki we manyepkhwa aatowoletjiwa asalobgwa shamu,
ne unoleba manyepkhwa aatowoletjedziwa.
6 Banjinji banozwizwadzanya ne nthu una mamo,
kakale mmwe ne mmwe nzwalani we nthu unopa zwipo.
7 Nshayi unobengiwa ne bana ba tate babe bose,
ngono bazwalani babe ibo banowoyendila kule naye kungapani!
Unodzobalebesa, koga abatoshako hwa.
8 Iye unowana butjenjedu unozwida,
iye unobhata hwisiso unowodwililambeli.
9 Ntendeki we manyepkhwa aatowoletjiwa asalogwa shamu,
ne unoleba manyepkhwa unowoloba.
10 Akutofanila kuti tjilengwe tjitjilile mu ipepkhwe,
koga se nlanda aangabe she we bakololo ba mambo.
11 Nkumbulo wakalulwama unothama nthu kasigwadze moyo tjinyolotjo,
ngono gudzo laanalo loyita kuti asibe ne hanya ne jinyo.
12 Kugwadzamoyo kwa mambo konga tjibombo tje shumba,
koga ludo gugwe gonga khawa mu bushwa.
13 Tjilengwe tje mwana tjo lengudza tate batjo,
ne nkadzi unoda zhoba unonga vula ye midumbi.
14 Dzing'umba ne fumwa ithaka inodwa kuna botate,
koga nkadzi wakatjenjela unodwa kuna Yahwe.
15 Busimbe golonga nthu mu hwope hwulu,
ne simbe inowofa nge zhala.
16 Iye unolondolodza nlayo unolondolodza butjilo gugwe,
iye unolingila dama pasi unowofa.
17 Iye una buthu ku bashayi unobigisa kuna Yahwe,
ngobe unonlipila nshingo uwe wakanaka.
18 Laya mwana uwo kutjina kugalabgwe,
usilonge luboko mu lufu gugwe.
19 Nthu una moywana unowolipila jinyo lile,
ngoti ha unsunungula unowobgwilulula kakale.
20 Teedza gumbuludzo uamutjile zwidiyo,
kuti ndizo kubupelo ube wakatjenjela.
21 Nkumbulo we nthu unoluka maano manjinji,
koga kuda kwa Yahwe ndiko kunowoshingikala.
22 Tjinoshakika mu nthu hwugalikabgwe,
ne nshayi unopinda nyepi.
23 Kutja Yahwe kokwebela ku butjilo,
na iye unago ugedzikane,
aanga hwigwe nge tjimwe tjakabipa.
24 Simbe inolonga luboko gwayo mu ndilo,
kakale ikakongwa ku gubgwiliza ku nlomo.
25 Loba ndadi, ndizo usinamano unowozwidiya butjenjedu;
tjemela nthu una kuhwisisa, unowowana butjenjedu.
26 Iye una phipiti na tate babe ebe etata mmeyabe munzi
unobhatisa shoni kunogwadza.
27 Nkololo wangu ha uletja kuteedza ndayo,
unobe e fupatila matama e luzibo.
28 Ntendeki usina nshingo unodadila kutambunuka,
ne nlomo mbiimbi unomidza mbipo.
29 Kusumikilisiwa kwakalindila badadi,
ne shamu ye ikamba yakalindila zwilengwe.