1Mwanakomana wangu, usakangamwa kudzidzisa kwangu; Asi moyo wako ngauchengete mirairo yangu;
1My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
2nekuti zvichakuwedzera mazuva mazhinji, Namakore ohupenyu, norugare.
2For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.
3Rudo nezvokwadi ngazvirege kukusiya; Uzvisungire pamutsipa wako; Uzvinyore pabwendefa romoyo wako;
3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,
4Nokudaro uchawana nyasha nenjere dzakanaka Pamberi paMwari navanhu.
4And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5Vimba naJehovha nomoyo wako wose, Urege kusendama panjere dzako.
5Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.
6Umutende panzira dzako dzose, Agoruramisa makwara ako ose.
6In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
7Usazviti ndakachenjera; Itya Jehovha, ubve pane zvakaipa;
7Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.
8Zvichava mushonga womuviri wako, Nezvimwiwa zvamafupa ako.
8Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.
9Kudza Jehovha nezvaunazvo, Uye nezvitsva zvazvose zvawakawana;
9Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;
10Ipapo matura ako achazadzwa nezvakawanda, Makate ako achapfachuka newaini itsva.
10And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.
11Mwanakomana wangu, usazvidza kuranga kwaJehovha; Usaneta nokuraira kwake.
11Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,
12nekuti Jehovha anoraira mudikamwa wake; Sezvinoita baba mwanakomana wavo wavanofarira.
12For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13Munhu, awana uchenjeri, anomufaro, Naiye munhu, anowana njere.
13O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth forth understanding.
14nekuti kuhuwana ihwo kunopfuura kuwana sirivha; Nokufuma nahwo kunopfuura kufuma nendarama.
14For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold — her increase.
15Hunokosha kupfuura korari; Hakune fuma yako ingaenzaniswa nahwo.
15Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her.
16Mazuva mazhinji ohupenyu ari muruoko rwahwo rworudyi; Muruoko rwahwo rworuboshwe mune fuma nokukudzwa.
16Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honour.
17Nzira dzahwo inzira dzezvinofadza; Makwara ahwo ose ndoorugare.
17Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
18Ndiwo muti woupenyu kuna vanohunamatira; Mumwe nomumwe anohubata anomufaro.
18A tree of life she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.
19Jehovha akateya pasi nouchenjeri; Wakasimbisa kudenga-denga nenjere.
19Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20Mvura iri makadzika yakadzutuka nezivo yake; Denga rose rakadonha dova.
20By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
21Mwanakomana wangu, ngazvirege kubva pameso ako; Chengeta uchenjeri chaihwo nekungwara.
21My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22Ipapo zvichava upenyu hwomweya Noukomba pamutsipa wako.
22And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Ipapo uchafamba nenzira yako wakasimba; Rutsoka rwako harungagumburwi.
23Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.
24Kana uchivata pasi haungatyi; Uye kana wavata pasi hope dzako dzichava dzakanaka.
24If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.
25Usatya hako chivhunduso chinokuwira kamwe-kamwe, Kunyange kuparadzwa kwavakaipa, kana kuchisvika;
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
26nekuti Jehovha achava chivimbo chako; Achachengeta rutsoka rwako, kuti rurege kubatwa.
26For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
27Munhu, akafanirwa, usaramba kumuitira zvakanaka Kana ruoko rwako ruchinge rune simba kuzviita.
27Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28Usati kunowokwako, Enda, ugodzokazve, Mangwana ndichakupa; Kana uchinge unazvopo.
28Say not thou to thy friend, `Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,` And substance with thee.
29Usafunga kuitira wokwako zvakaipa, Zvaanogara hake newe achikutenda.
29Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.
30Usarwa nomunhu pasina mhosva, Kana asina kukuitira zvakaipa.
30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.
31Usagodora munhu anomanikidza; Usatevera kunyange nomumwe wemitovo yake.
31Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
32nekuti mutsauki inyangadzi kuna Jehovha; Asi ano hukama navakarurama.
32For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.
33Kutukwa naJehovha kuri mumba mowakaipa; Asi unoropafadza ugaro hwevakarurama.
33The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.
34Kana vari vadadi, anovadadira, Asi vanozvininipisa anovaitira nyasha.
34If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.
35Vakachenjera vachagara nhaka yokukudzwa; Asi mapenzi anozviwanira kunyadziswa. Itya Jehovha, ubve pane zvakaipa;
35Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!