1Zita rakanaka rinofanira kutsanangurwa kupfuura fuma zhinji; Uye kudikamwa kupfuura sirivha nendarama.
1A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
2Vafumi navarombo vanosangana pamwechete; Jehovha ndiye muiti wavo vose.
2Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3Munhu akangwara anoona zvakaipa, ndokuvanda; Asi vasina mano vanopfuura havo, ndokuwira munjodzi.
3The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4Mubayiro wokuzvininipisa nokutya Jehovha Ifuma nokukudzwa noupenyu.
4The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5mhinzwa nemisungo zviri panzira yousakarurama; Asi anochengeta mweya wake achagara kure nazvo.
5Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6Rovedza mwana nzira yaanofanira kufamba nayo, Ipapo kunyange akwegura haangatsauki pairi.
6Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7Mufumi anobata ushe pamusoro pomurombo; Anotora chikwereti, muranda, wowakamupa chikwereti.
7The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8Unodzvara zvakaipa, uchacheka dambudziko; Shamhu yokutsamwa kwake ichanyangarika.
8Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9Ane moyo munyoro acharopafadzwa; nekuti anopa varombo zvokudya zvake.
9The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10Dzinga mudadi, kukakavara kugoendawo; Nenharo nokunyadzwa zvichaguma.
10Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11Anoda kuchena komoyo, Neane miromo inofadza, mambo achava shamwari yake.
11Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12Meso aJehovha anochengeta ane zivo; Asi achakonesa mashoko omunhu anonyengedzera.
12The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13Simbe inoti, Kune shumba kunze, Ndingaurawa pakati penzira dzomumusha.
13The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.`
14Muromo wavakadzi vokumwe igomba rakadzika; Anotsamwirwa naJehovha achawiramo.
14A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15Upenzi hunonamatira mumoyo womwana; Asi shamhu yokurairira ichahudzingira kure naye.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16Anomanikidza murombo, anomufumisa; Anopa mufumi zvipo, anongomushaisa.
16He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17Rerekera nzeve yako, unzwe mashoko owakachenjera, moyo wako urangarire zivo yangu.
17Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18nekuti chinhu chakanaka, kana uchigara nazvo mukati mako, Ngazvigare pamwechete pamiromo yako.
18For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19Ndakakuzivisa, iyewe, izvozvo nhasi, Kuti uvimbe naJehovha.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20Handina kukunyorera mashoko akaisvonaka here, Okurairira nezivo here?
20Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21Kuti uziviswe kwazvo mashoko ezvokwadi, Kuti udzosere mashoko ezvokwadi kuna vanokutuma here?
21To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22Usatorera murombo, nekuti murombo; Usamanikidza anotambudzika pasuwo;
22Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23nekuti Jehovha achavarwira pamhaka dzavo, Nokutadzira upenyu hwevanovatadzira.
23For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24Usashamwaridzana nomunhu anotsamwa; Usafambidzana nomunhu ane hasha;
24Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25Kuti urege kudzidza tsika dzake, Uteyire mweya wako musungo.
25Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26Usava mumwe wavanozvisunga noruoko, Kana vakazviita rubatso nokuda kwechikwereti.
26Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27Kana usina chaungaripa nacho, Uchagokutorereiko nhovo dzako pasi pako?
27If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28Usabvisa muganhu wekare, Wakaiswapo namadzibaba ako.
28Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29Unoona munhu anoshingaira pabasa rake here? Achamira pamberi pamadzimambo; Haangamiri pamberi pavanhu vasingazikamwi.
29Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!