1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man , and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man , and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it .
13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Butjenjedu ne bulengwe
1 Butjenjedu gwakabaka ng'umba yago,
gwakaibamba ne phanda dzili kutendeka.
2 Gwakabhaya ng'ombe dzago, gukashanganya nkumbi wago we zhambi,
ne tafuli ye zojiwa yakalulwamisiwa.
3 Gwatuma balandakadzi kunokoka bathu
mu magalo apezhugwi mu nzi nkulu guti,
4 “Usakatjenjela, ngaanginile ngeno.”
Kuna basina nkumbulo goti,
5 “Buyani muje tjiwunga tjangu,
mung'we nkumbi we zhambi wandakashanganya.
6 Letjedzani bulengwe, mutjile,
muyende mu zila ye hwisiso.”
7 Iye unotjemela ndadi unozwidanila kutukwa,
iye unotambunudza nthu mbimbi unowokubala.
8 Usitongo tjemela ndadi, ngobe unowokubenga,
tjemela ntjenjedu ngono unowokuda.
9 Laya ntjenjedu, ngono iye unowotjenjelela mbeli,
diya nthu wakalulwama unowopaphidzika mu luzibo.
10 Kutja Yahwe ndiko kutangisa kwe butjenjedu,
ne kuziba Wakayengemala ndiyo hwisiso.
11 Ngoti nge kwangu mazhuba awo anowowatshika,
makole anowopaphidziwa mu butjilo gugo.
12 Ha wakatjenjela, wakazwitjenjelegwa,
ha udada, unowodziyila woga.
13 Nkadzi we tjilengwe una zhoba,
ha ana mano kakale ha ana shoni.
14 Unogala pa nkoba we ng'umba iye,
unogala mu tjigalo tjipezhugwi mu nzi nkulu,
15 edana ibabo banopinda,
banoyenda mu zila dzabo eti,
16 “Iye usakatjenjela, ngaanginile ngeno!”
Kuna usina hwisiso unoti kunli,
17 “Vula yakwibiwa inozipa,
ne tjiwunga tjinojigwa mu ikohwa tjozipa.”
18 Koga aatoziba kuti bafi bayapo,
kuti bezi be nkadzi uwoyo ba mukatikati kwe ikumbu.