1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it , then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man , against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it , and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men , neither be thou envious at the wicked; 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. 27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. 29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
1 Usiyemule bathu babiibi,
kene kuyemula kube nabo,
2 ngobe mikumbulo yabo inoluka phipiti,
ne milomo yabo inolebazwakabipa.
3 Nge butjenjedu ng'umba inobumbiwa,
nge hwisiso inothumbidziwa,
4 ne luzibo ng'umba dzi mukati dzozhadziwa,
ne thundu inoguta yakanaka.
5 Nthu wakatjenjela wakasima kupinda una matatabuko,
ne nthu una luzibo unopinda unasimba,
6 ngobe nge kukumbuludziwa nge butjenjedu ungatangisa ngwa,
ne pana bakumbuludzi banjinji kuna kunda.
7 Butjenjedu gu pezhugwi kwazo mu tjilengwe,
ku lubazhe atjitozhula nlomo watjo.
8 Iye unoluka mano e kuthama mbipo,
unowodang'wa kuyi nthami we zwibi.
9 Kuluka maano e bulengwe tjibi,
ne ndadi unoshimisa ku bathu.
10 Ha upela meya zhuba le kudziyila,
simba lilo ishomanana.
11 Sunungula ibabo banoyisiwa ku lufu;
udzibile banotshatsharikila kunobulawa.
12 Ha uti, “Bonani, tabe tisingakuzibe ikoku,”
apa iye unokala moyo aatokubona kene?
Apa iye unotjengeta meya iyo aatokuziba kene,
apa aatolipa nthu kunoyendidzana ne mishingo iye kene?
13 Nkololo wangu ija butji, ngoti gwakalulwama,
ne butji gwe mape gokuzipila.
14 Ziba kuti butjenjedu gwakajalo ku meya iyo,
ha uguwana mbhailo uyapo,
ne njemulo dzidzo adzinga kolomoke.
15 Usilalile bugalo gwe wakalulwama se nthu mbiimbi,
usitongo nginilila nzi uwe,
16 ngobe nlulwami unowa katendeka, ngono kamuka kakale,
koga bakabipa banowiswa nge mbatsha.
17 Usitongo shatha ha tjita tjiwa,
kakale moyo uwousipembele ha e kuthiwa,
18 Yahwe bakadwa bebona ngono kube kusingabashathise,
bebe beshandusa bushongola gwabo kunli.
19 Usitongo zwidziyidza ngekwe banoshinga bubi,
kakale usiyemule babi,
20 ngobe nthu mbiimbi aana mbhayilo,
luvone gwe mbiimbi gowodzimiwa
21 nkololo wangu, itja Yahwe na mambo,
kakale usishete kuhwa mmwe wabo,
22 ngobe mbatsha kudwa kubali dzingazha tjinyolotjo,
ndizo wali ndiyani unoziba mbatsha dzabanga zhisa?
23 Zwilebo ezwi naizobo nge zwe batjenjedu.
Kushalawula bathu mu kusumikilisa akuzolulwama.
24 Iye unodwa mbiimbi eti, “Auna nlandu,”
unowolongwa bhiso nge bathu, ka kashimiwa nge njudzi,
25 koga ibabo banotjemela babiibi banowobe ne shatho,
makombolelo akanaka anobawila.
26 Iye unopa shandulo yakalulwama,
unoputa milomo.
27 Lulwamisa nshingo uwo kuzhe,
lulwamisa tjimwe ne tjimwe mu nnda,
kudwapo ukobaka ng'umba iyo.
28 Usibe ntendeki ngekwe mbakidzani kusina tjimwe,
kakale usitongo tjebela nge nlomo uwo.
29 Usitongoti, “Ndowonthamila sekwa akandithamilabo,
ndowobgwilizila nthu kuyendidzana ne tjaakathama.”
30 Ndaka pinda pa nnda we simbe,
pa nnda we zhambi we usina nkumbulo,
31 wakabe una matenjana emihwa pamwe ne pamwe,
pasi kuli zhele dishwa,
ne luswingo gwawo gwe mabgwe gwakawa.
32 Ipapo abona aalakana ngekwako,
alinga aamutjila ndayo.
33 Hwope shomanana ne tshung'ayila kushomanana,
ne kufukata maboko kunyaluluka,
34 ne bushayi gowozha kukuli se ntoleli,
ne ku sheta se nlume wakasenga zwibhayano.