1imwi vanakomana, inzwai kurairira kwababa venyu; Teererai, muzive njere.
1Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2nekuti ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka; Regai kurasha murayiro wangu.
2For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3nekuti ini ndakanga ndiri mwanakomana kuna baba vangu, Mwana oga akadikamwa kwazvo, namai vangu;
3For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4Ivo baba vakandidzidzisa, vakati kwandiri, moyo wako ngaunyatsobata mashoko angu; Chengeta mirairo yangu, urarame.
4And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5Zviwanire uchenjeri, zviwanire njere; Regai kukangamwa kana kutsauka pamashoko omuromo wangu;
5Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6Usahurasha, hugokuchengeta; Uhude, hugokurinda.
6Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru kune zvose; saka uzviwanire uchenjeri; Uzviwanire njere nezvose zvaunazvo.
7The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8Uhukudze, hugokukwiridza iwe; Huchakuvigira kukudzwa, kana uchihumbundikira.
8Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9Huchapa musoro wako chishongo chakanaka; Huchakuisira korona inobwinya.
9She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10Chinzwa iwe mwanakomana wangu, ugamuchire zvandinoreva; Makore oupenyu hwako agova mazhinji.
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11Ndakakudzidzisa panzira youchenjeri; Ndakakufambisa pamakwara akarurama.
11In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12Kana uchifamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi; Kana uchimhanya, haungagumburwi.
12In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13Natsa kubata kurairirwa; usakuregedza; Ukuchengete, nekuti ndihwo hupenyu hwako.
13Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14Usapinda pagwara ravakaipa, Usafamba nenzira yavakashata.
14Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15Uinzvenge, usapinda pairi; Tsauka pairi, upfuure hako.
15Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16nekuti havavati, kana vasingaiti zvakashata; Vanotorerwa hope dzavo, kana vasingagumbusi vamwe.
16For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17nekuti vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, Nokumwa waini yokumanikidza.
17For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18Asi gwara ravakarurama rakaita sechiedza chamambakwedza, Chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pamasikati makuru.
18And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19Nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima; Havazivi chingavagumbusa.
19The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20Mwanakomana wangu, teerera mashoko angu; Rerekera nzeve yako kune zvandinoreva.
20My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21Urambe uchitarira, Uachengete mukati momoyo wako.
21Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22nekuti ndihwo hupenyu kuna vanowawana, Noukukutu bwemuviri yavo yose.
22For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23Chengeta moyo wako kupfuura zvose zvinofanira kurindwa; nekuti mukati mawo ndimo mune zvitubu zvoupenyu.
23Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24Bvisa kwauri nhema dzomuromo, Kutsauka kwemiromo ngakuve kure newe.
24Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25Meso ako ngaarurame pakutarira; Mafungiro ameso ako ngaatarire mberi kwako.
25Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara; Nzira dzako dzose dzive dzakasimba.
26Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; Rutsoka rwako urubvise pane zvakaipa.
27Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!