1Chimedurwa chakaoma chechingwa norugare, Chinopfuura imba izere nezvakabayiwa nokukakavara.
1Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2Muranda, anoita nouchenjeri, angaraira mwanakomana anonyadzisa, Achidya nhaka pamwechete navana.
2A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3Hari yokunyausa ndeyesirivha, nevira nderendarama; Asi Jehovha anoidza moyo yavanhu.
3A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
4Munhu, anoita zvakaipa, anoteerera miromo yakaipa; Murevi wenhema anorerekera nzeve yake kururimi rwakashata.
4An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5Ani naani anoseka murombo, anozvidza Muiti wake; Anofara pamusoro penjodzi yavamwe, haangakoni kurohwa.
5Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6Vazukuru ikorona yavatana; Kukudzwa kwavana ndiwo madzibaba avo.
6Sons` sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7Kutaura kwamanyawi hakufaniri benzi; Zvikuru kutaura kune nhema hakufaniri muchinda.
7Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8Fufuro yakaita sebwe rinokosha kana ichitarirwa nomwene wayo; Pose painoringira inofadza.
8A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9Munhu anofukidza kudarika komumwe, anotsvaka rudo; Asi anoramba achimutsa shoko, anoparadzanisa shamwari dzinodana.
9Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10Munhu ane njere anobayiwa nokutukwa Kupfuura benzi nokurohwa rune zana.
10Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11Munhu anomoyo wokumukira anongotsvaka zvakaipa; Asi achatumirwa nhume inomoyo mukukutu.
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12Zviri nani kuti munhu asangane nechikara chatorerwa vana, Pakuti asangane nebenzi paupenzi hwaro.
12The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
13Ani naani anoripidzira zvakanaka nezvakaipa, Zvakaipa hazvingabvi paimba yake.
13Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
14Kuvamba kokukakavara kwakafanana nokudziurira mvura; Saka rega rukave, kurwa kusati kwasvika.
14The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15Anopembedza akaipa, nounopa wakarurama mhosva, Vose vari vaviri vanonyangadza Jehovha.
15Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
16Mari iri muruoko rwebenzi neiko kuti ritenge uchenjeri, Zvarisina njere.
16Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17Shamwari inoda nguva dzose; Hama inoberekerwa kuti ibatsire pakutambudzika.
17At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18Munhu anoshaiwa njere, ndiye anozvisunga noruoko rwake, Achizviitira wokwake rubatso.
18A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19Anoda kukakavara, anoda kudarika, Anokurisa suwo rake, anotsvaka kuparadzwa.
19Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20Anomoyo usakarurama haawani zvakanaka; Ano rurimi rusakarurama anowira munjodzi.
20The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21Anobereka benzi achazonzwa shungu; Baba vebenzi havana mufaro.
21Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22moyo wakafara unobatsira munhu kupora; Asi mweya wakaputsika unowomesa mafupa.
22A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23Munhu akaipa anogamuchira fufuro inobva muchipfuva, Kuti aminamise nzira dzokururamisira.
23A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24Uchenjeri huri pamberi poane njere, Asi meso ebenzi ari pamigumo yenyika.
24The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
25Mwanakomana benzi anochemedza baba vake, Anoitira mai vakamubereka zvinovava.
25A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26Uye, kuranga akarurama hakuzakanaka, Nokurova vakuru nokuda kokururama kwavo.
26Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
27Anozvidzora pamashoko ake, ane zivo; Uye ane mweya wakagadzikana, munhu wenjere.
27One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28Kunyange nebenzi, kana rinyerere, ringanzi rakachenjera; Anobumira muromo wake, achanzi akangwara.
28Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!