1Sezvakaita chando muzhizha, uye sezvakaita mvura mukukohwa, Saizvozvo kukudzwa hakufaniri benzi.
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2Sezvinoita shiri pakupaparika kwayo, nenyenganyenga pakubhururuka kwayo, Saizvozvo kutuka pasina mhosva hakuitiki.
2As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3Tyava yakaitirwa bhiza, namatomu mbongoro, Neshamhu musana wamapenzi.
3A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4Usapindura benzi noupenzi hwaro, Kuti urege kufanana naro.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
5Pindura benzi noupenzi hwaro, Kuti rirege kuti rakachenjera.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6Anotuma shoko noruoko rwebenzi, Unozvigura tsoka, nokumwa kutambudzika.
6He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7Makumbo echirema anongoremberera; Ndizvo zvakaita chirevo mumuromo webenzi.
7Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8Somunhu anosungira ibwe pachifuramabwe, Ndizvo zvakaita iye anokudza benzi.
8As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9Sezvinoita mhinzwa muruoko rwomukariri wedoro, Ndizvo zvakaita chirevo mumuromo webenzi,
9A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10somupfuri wemiseve, unopfura zvose, Ndizvo zvakaita munhu anosevenzesa benzi neanosevenzesa vafambi.
10Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11Sembwa inodzokera kumarutsi ayo, Ndizvo zvakaita benzi rinopamhidza upenzi hwaro.
11As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12Unoona munhu anoti ndakachenjera here? Benzi riri nani kuna iye!
12Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13Simbe inoti, Kune shumba panzira; Shumba iri munzira dzomumusha.
13The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.`
14Gonhi rinotendereka pamahinji aro; Ndizvo zvinoita simbe panhovo dzayo.
14The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15Simbe inopinza ruoko rwayo mundiro, Ino usimbe kurudzoserazve kumuromo wayo.
15The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16Simbe inozviti ndakachenjera Kupfuura vanhu vanomwe vanogona kupindura nenjere.
16Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17Somunhu anobata imbwa nenzeve dzayo, ichingopfuura hayo, Ndizvo zvakaita mupfuuri anozvipinza pagakava risati riri rake.
17Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18Somupengo anokanda zvitsiga, Nemiseve, nezvinouraya,
18As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19Ndizvo zvinoita munhu anonyengedzera wokwake, Achiti, Ndinongoita zvangu jee!
19So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?`
20Moto unodzima nokushaiwa huni; Uye kana kusina mucheri, gakava rinopera.
20Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21Sezvakaita mazimbe pazvitsiga zvinopfuta, nehuni pamoto, Ndizvo zvakaita munhu wegakava pakupfutidza rukave.
21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22Mashoko omucheri akaita sezvimedu zvinozipa, Zvinoburukira mukati-kati momuviri.
22The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23Miromo inopisa norudo pamwechete nomoyo wakaipa, Zvakafanana nomudziyo wevhu wakanamirwa namarara anobva pasirivha.
23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24Muvengi anonyengedzera nemiromo yake, Asi anovanza kunyengedzera mumoyo make.
24By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25Kana achitaura zvinonaka, usamutenda; nekuti mumoyo make mune zvinonyangadza zvinomwe.
25When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26Kunyange kuvenga kwake kuchizvivanza nokunyengedzera, Kushata kwake kuchabudiswa pachena pamberi peungano.
26Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27Ani naani anochera gomba, achawiramo iye; Anokungurusa ibwe, richadzokera pamusoro pake.
27Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28Rurimi rwenhema runovenga akuvadzwa narwo; Nomuromo unobata kumeso unoparadza.
28A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!