1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
1Mashoko amambo Remueri; zvirevo zvaakadzidziswa namai vake.
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
2Nhai, mwanakomana wangu! Nhai, mwanakomana wemhiko dzangu!
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
3Rega kupa vakadzi simba rako, Nenzira dzako kune zvinoparadza madzimambo.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
4Iwe Remueri, hazvifaniri madzimambo, hazvifaniri madzimambo kumwa waini; Namachinda kuti, Doro riripiko?
5-- lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
5Varege kumwa, vachizokangamwa murayiro, Varege kukanganisa kururamisira vamwe vanotambudzika.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
6Ipai anoda kuparara doro, Neanomoyo unorwadza waini;
7let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7Ngaamwe, akangamwe urombo hwake, Arege kucharangarira kutambudzika kwake.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
8Shamisira mbeveve muromo wako, Urwire mhaka dzavose vakatemerwa kuparadzwah.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
9Shamisa muromo wako, utonge zvakarurama, Ururamisire murombo neanoshaiwa.
10Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
10Ndianiko angawana mukadzi anoshingairira zvakanaka? nekuti mutengo wake unokunda kwazvo mutengo wamaparera.
11The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
11moyo womurume wake unomutenda, Naiye haangashaiwi fuma.
12She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
12Unoitira murume wake zvakanaka, haamuitiri zvakaipa Mazuva ose oupenyu hwake.
13She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
13Anotsvaka mvere noruchinda, Achibata namaoko ake nomufaro.
14She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
14Akafanana nezvikepe zvavatengesi; Anondotora zvokudya zvake kure.
15And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
15Anomuka huchiri usiku, Nokupa mhuri yake zvokudya, Navashandiri vake basa ravo.
16She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
16Anorangarira munda, ndokuutenga; Anosima munda wemizambiringa nezvaakawana namaoko ake.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
17Anozvisunga chiuno nesimba, Nokusimbisa maoko ake.
18She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
18Anoona kuti kushambadzira kwake kwabatsira; Mwenje wake haudzimi vusiku.
19She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
19Anotambanudzira ruoko rwake kune chokurukisa; Maoko ake anobata chinorukwa.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
20Anotambanudzira murombo ruoko rwake; Anotandavadzira anoshaiwa maoko ake.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
21Haatyi chando pamusoro peimba yake, nekuti mhuri yake yose yakafuka nguvo tsvuku.
22She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
22Anozviitira mitsamhiro inoukomba; nguvo yake mucheka wakaisvonaka nomutsvuku.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
23Murume wake anozikamwa pamasuwo eguta, Kana agere pakati pavakuru venyika.
24She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
24Anoita zvokufuka zvomucheka achizvitengesa, Anovigira vatengesi zvisungo zvezviuno.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
25Simba nokukudzwa ndizvo zvokufuka zvake; Anoseka kana achifunga zuva inouya.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
26Anoshamisa muromo wake nouchenjeri; Rurimi rwake runodzidzisa nounyoro.
27She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
27Anotarira zvakanaka kufamba kwemhuri yake, Asingadyi zvokudya zvousimbe.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
28Vana vake vanomuka, vachimuti, Makaropafadzwa; Nomurume wakewo anomurumbidza, achiti,
29Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
29Vakunda vazhinji vakaita zvakanaka,asi iwe unovakunda vose.
30Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
30Zvinofadza zvinonyengedzera, unaki hahuna maturo; Asi mukadzi anotya Jehovha, ndiye anofanira kurumbidzwa.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31Chimupai zvakafanira zvaakabata namaoko ake; Mabasa ake ngaamurumbidze pamasuwo eguta.