1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
1imwi vanakomana, inzwai kurairira kwababa venyu; Teererai, muzive njere.
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
2nekuti ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka; Regai kurasha murayiro wangu.
3For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
3nekuti ini ndakanga ndiri mwanakomana kuna baba vangu, Mwana oga akadikamwa kwazvo, namai vangu;
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
4Ivo baba vakandidzidzisa, vakati kwandiri, moyo wako ngaunyatsobata mashoko angu; Chengeta mirairo yangu, urarame.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
5Zviwanire uchenjeri, zviwanire njere; Regai kukangamwa kana kutsauka pamashoko omuromo wangu;
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
6Usahurasha, hugokuchengeta; Uhude, hugokurinda.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
7Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru kune zvose; saka uzviwanire uchenjeri; Uzviwanire njere nezvose zvaunazvo.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
8Uhukudze, hugokukwiridza iwe; Huchakuvigira kukudzwa, kana uchihumbundikira.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
9Huchapa musoro wako chishongo chakanaka; Huchakuisira korona inobwinya.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
10Chinzwa iwe mwanakomana wangu, ugamuchire zvandinoreva; Makore oupenyu hwako agova mazhinji.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
11Ndakakudzidzisa panzira youchenjeri; Ndakakufambisa pamakwara akarurama.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
12Kana uchifamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi; Kana uchimhanya, haungagumburwi.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
13Natsa kubata kurairirwa; usakuregedza; Ukuchengete, nekuti ndihwo hupenyu hwako.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
14Usapinda pagwara ravakaipa, Usafamba nenzira yavakashata.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
15Uinzvenge, usapinda pairi; Tsauka pairi, upfuure hako.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
16nekuti havavati, kana vasingaiti zvakashata; Vanotorerwa hope dzavo, kana vasingagumbusi vamwe.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
17nekuti vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, Nokumwa waini yokumanikidza.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
18Asi gwara ravakarurama rakaita sechiedza chamambakwedza, Chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pamasikati makuru.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
19Nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima; Havazivi chingavagumbusa.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
20Mwanakomana wangu, teerera mashoko angu; Rerekera nzeve yako kune zvandinoreva.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
21Urambe uchitarira, Uachengete mukati momoyo wako.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
22nekuti ndihwo hupenyu kuna vanowawana, Noukukutu bwemuviri yavo yose.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
23Chengeta moyo wako kupfuura zvose zvinofanira kurindwa; nekuti mukati mawo ndimo mune zvitubu zvoupenyu.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
24Bvisa kwauri nhema dzomuromo, Kutsauka kwemiromo ngakuve kure newe.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
25Meso ako ngaarurame pakutarira; Mafungiro ameso ako ngaatarire mberi kwako.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
26Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara; Nzira dzako dzose dzive dzakasimba.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
27Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; Rutsoka rwako urubvise pane zvakaipa.