¹The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.

¹Akaipa anotiza kusina anodzi­ngana naye; Asi vakarurama vanotsunga moyo seshumba.

²By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding [and] of knowledge, [its] stability is prolonged.

²Nemhaka yokudarika kwenyika, machinda ayo anowanda; Asi nomumwe, ane njere nezivo, kururama kwayo kucharamba kuripo.

³A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

³Munhu anoshaiwa amene, anomanikidza varombo, Akafanana nemvura inokukura, isingasii zvokudya.

⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁴Vanosiya murayiro, vanorumbidza vakaipa; Asi vanochengeta murayiro, vanoita nharo navo.

⁵Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek Jehovah understand everything.

⁵Vanhu vakashata havanzwisisi zvakarurama; Asi vanotsvaka Jehovha vanonzwisisa zvose.

⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse, double in ways, though he be rich.

⁶Murombo, anofamba muzvokwadi yake, Anopfuura asakarurama anofamba nenzira mbiri, kunyange akafuma.

⁷Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

⁷Anochengeta murayiro, mwanakomana akachenjera; Asi anofambidzana navanhu vana madyo, vanonyadzisa baba vake.

⁸He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.

⁸Anowedzera fuma yake nemhindu kana nokuwedzera kusakarurama, Anounganidzira mumwe achava netsitsi navarombo.

⁹He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

⁹Anoramba kunzwa murayiro nenzeve yake, Kunyange nomunyengetero wake anonyangadza.

¹⁰Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, shall himself fall into his own pit; but the perfect shall inherit good.

¹⁰Ani naani anorashisa vakarurama vafambe nenzira yakaipa, Achawira amene mugomba rake; Asi vakarurama vachagara nhaka yezvakanaka.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

¹¹Mupfuri anoti ndakachenjera; Asi murombo, ane njere, anomuferefeta.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men conceal themselves.

¹²Kana vakarurama vachikunda, mufaro mukuru uriko; Asi kana vakaipa vosimba, vanhu vovanda.

¹³He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall obtain mercy.

¹³Anofukidza kudarika kwake, haangavi nomufaro; Asi anozvireurura, achizvirasha, achawana nyasha.

¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

¹⁴Munhu anogara achitya, anomufaro; Asi anoomesa moyo wake, achawira munjodzi.

¹⁵A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁵Seshumba inoomba, nebere rinopota-pota, Ndizvo zvakaita mubati akaipa anobata vanhu varombo.

¹⁶The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.

¹⁶Muchinda, anoshaiwa njere, anomanikidza vanhuwo zvikuru; Asi anovenga kuchiva, achawedzera mazuva.

¹⁷A man laden with the blood of [any] person, fleeth to the pit: let no man stay him.

¹⁷Munhu, anoremedzwa neropa romumwe munhu, Achatizira kugomba; ngaarege kudziviswa nomunhu.

¹⁸Whoso walketh in integrity shall be saved; but he that is perverted in [his] double ways, shall fall in one [of them].

¹⁸Ani naani anofamba zvakarurama, acharwirwa; Asi anofamba nenzira dzisakarurama, achawa pakarepo.

¹⁹He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless shall have poverty enough.

¹⁹Anorima munda wake, achava nezvokudya zvizhinji; Asi unovangira zvisina maturo, uchava nourombo kwazvo.

²⁰A faithful man aboundeth with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

²⁰Munhu akatendeka achava namaropafadzo mazhinji; Asi anoda kufuma nokukurumidza, haangakoni kurohwa.

²¹To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.

²¹Kutsaura vanhu hakuna kunaka; nekuti munhu angadarika nokuda kwechimedu chechingwa.

²²He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.

²²Munhu ano ruchiva, anovangira fuma, Asingazivi kuti achawirwa nokushaiwa.

²³He that rebuketh a man shall afterwards find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²³Anorairira munhu achazowana nyasha pashure, Kupfuura iye anobata kumeso norurimi rwake.

²⁴Whoso robbeth his father and his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁴Anobira baba vake kana amai vake, achiti, Hakuzi kudarika, Uyu ishamwari yoanoparadza.

²⁵He that is puffed up in soul exciteth contention; but he that relieth upon Jehovah shall be made fat.

²⁵Ano mweya wokukara anomutsa kukakavara; Asi anovimba naJehovha, achasimbiswa.

²⁶He that confideth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁶Anotenda moyo wake, ibenzi; Asi anofamba nouchenjeri, achadzikunurwa.

²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that withdraweth his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁷Anopa varombo, haangazoshaiwi; Asi anotsinzina meso ake, achatukwa kazhinji.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

²⁸Kana vakaipa vosimba, vanhu vovanda; Asi kana voparara, vakarurama vowanda.