1Usagodora vanhu vakaipa; Usashuva kuva pakati pavo.
1Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
2nekuti moyo yavo inorangarira kuparadza; Nemiromo yavo inotaura zvakashata.
2For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
3Imba inovakwa nouchenjeri; Inosimbiswa nenjere.
3Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;
4Nezivo dzimba dzomukati dzinozadzwa Nefuma yose inokosha inofadza.
4And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
5Munhu akachenjera ane simba; Zvirokwazvo, munhu wezivo anowedzera simba
5A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might
6nekuti anofanira kurwa pfumo amborairirwa nouchenjeri; Asi kuna varairiri vazhinji ndiko kune ruponeso.
6For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7Uchenjeri hahusvikirwi nebenzi; Harishamisi muromo waro padare.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8Anorangarira kuita zvakaipa, Achanzi navanhu mwene wezvakashata.
8He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
9Mufungo woupenzi zvivi; Mudadi anonyangadza vanhu.
9The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10Kana ukapera simba nezuva rokutambudzika, Simba rako ishoma.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
11Rwira vanoiswa kurufu; Novourawa usarega kuvadzosa.
11Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
12Kana ukati, Tarira, hatina kuzviziva; Ko iye anoidza moyo, haazvioni here? Naiye anochengeta mweya wako, haazvizivi here? Ko iye haangadzoaeri mumwe nomumwe zvakaenzana nebasa rake here?
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?
13Mwanakomana wangu, idya uchi, nekuti hwakanaka; Nomusvi unozipa pamukamwa wako.
13My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:
14Uchaona kuti ndizvo zvichaita uchenjeri kumweya wako; Kana wahuwana, mubayiro uchavapo, Nezvawakatarira hazvingaparadzwi.
14So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.
15Iwe munhu akaipa, usavandira panogara wakarurama; Usaparadza paanozorora.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place:
16nekuti munhu akarurama angawa kanomwe, achisimukazve; Asi vakaipa vanowisirwa pasi nenjodzi.
16For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17Usafarisisa kana muvengi wako achiwa; Kana achiwisirwa pasi, moyo wako ngaurege kufara.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18Kuti Jehovha arege kuzviona, zvisamufadza, Akazodzora kutsamwa kwake kwaari.
18Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
19Usatsamwa nokuda kwavaiti vezvakaipa; Uye usagodora vakaipa.
19Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20nekuti munhu akaipa haana mubayiro; Mwenje wakaipa uchadzimwa.
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21Mwanakomana wangu, itya Jehovha namambo; Usafambidzana navanongoshanduka shanduka.
21My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; [And] company not with them that are given to change:
22nekuti nhamo yavo ichamuka pakarepo; Nokuguma kwamakore avo, ndiani achazviziva?
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?
23Zvirevo izviwo zvakabva kuna vakachenjera, Kutsaura vanhu pakutonga hazvina kunaka
23These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24Anoti kune wakaipa, Akarurama, Vanhu vachamutuka, nendudzi dzichamusema.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
25Asi vanomuraira, vachaitirwa zvakanaka; ropafadzo yakanaka ichauya pamusoro pavo.
25But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
26Anopindura namashoko akarurama, unotsvoda nemiromo.
26He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.
27Gadzira basa rako kunze, Uzvigadzirire iro pamunda; Pashure ugovaka imba yako.
27Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
28Usava chapupu chinopomera wokwako asina mhosva; Usanyengedzera nemiromo yako.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.
29Usati, Sezvaakandiitira, ndizvo zvandichamuitirawo; Ndicharipira munhu sezvaakaita iye.
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
30Ndakapfuura napamunda wesimbe, Napamunda wemizambiringa womunhu anoshaiwa njere;
30I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31Tarirai, akanga angomera mhinzwa chete; Munda wose wakange wakafukidzwa norukato, Norusvingo rwawo rwamabwe rwakanga rwakoromoka.
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32Ipapo ndakacherekedza, ndikanatsofunga; Ndakaona, ndikadzidziswa.
32Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:
33Kumbovata zvishomanene, kumbotsumwaira zvishomanene, Kumbofungatira maoko zvishomanene, ndizorore;
33[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
34Saizvozvo urombo hwako huchasvika segororo, Nokushaiwa kwako somunhu akashonga nhumbi dzokurwa.
34So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.