1Mashoko amambo Remueri; zvirevo zvaakadzidziswa namai vake.
1The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2Nhai, mwanakomana wangu! Nhai, mwanakomana wemhiko dzangu!
2What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
3Rega kupa vakadzi simba rako, Nenzira dzako kune zvinoparadza madzimambo.
3Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
4Iwe Remueri, hazvifaniri madzimambo, hazvifaniri madzimambo kumwa waini; Namachinda kuti, Doro riripiko?
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes [to say], Where is strong drink?
5Varege kumwa, vachizokangamwa murayiro, Varege kukanganisa kururamisira vamwe vanotambudzika.
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice [due] to any that is afflicted.
6Ipai anoda kuparara doro, Neanomoyo unorwadza waini;
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:
7Ngaamwe, akangamwe urombo hwake, Arege kucharangarira kutambudzika kwake.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
8Shamisira mbeveve muromo wako, Urwire mhaka dzavose vakatemerwa kuparadzwah.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
9Shamisa muromo wako, utonge zvakarurama, Ururamisire murombo neanoshaiwa.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
10Ndianiko angawana mukadzi anoshingairira zvakanaka? nekuti mutengo wake unokunda kwazvo mutengo wamaparera.
10A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
11moyo womurume wake unomutenda, Naiye haangashaiwi fuma.
11The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.
12Unoitira murume wake zvakanaka, haamuitiri zvakaipa Mazuva ose oupenyu hwake.
12She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.
13Anotsvaka mvere noruchinda, Achibata namaoko ake nomufaro.
13She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
14Akafanana nezvikepe zvavatengesi; Anondotora zvokudya zvake kure.
14She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.
15Anomuka huchiri usiku, Nokupa mhuri yake zvokudya, Navashandiri vake basa ravo.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.
16Anorangarira munda, ndokuutenga; Anosima munda wemizambiringa nezvaakawana namaoko ake.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17Anozvisunga chiuno nesimba, Nokusimbisa maoko ake.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
18Anoona kuti kushambadzira kwake kwabatsira; Mwenje wake haudzimi vusiku.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.
19Anotambanudzira ruoko rwake kune chokurukisa; Maoko ake anobata chinorukwa.
19She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.
20Anotambanudzira murombo ruoko rwake; Anotandavadzira anoshaiwa maoko ake.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21Haatyi chando pamusoro peimba yake, nekuti mhuri yake yose yakafuka nguvo tsvuku.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22Anozviitira mitsamhiro inoukomba; nguvo yake mucheka wakaisvonaka nomutsvuku.
22She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Murume wake anozikamwa pamasuwo eguta, Kana agere pakati pavakuru venyika.
23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24Anoita zvokufuka zvomucheka achizvitengesa, Anovigira vatengesi zvisungo zvezviuno.
24She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Simba nokukudzwa ndizvo zvokufuka zvake; Anoseka kana achifunga zuva inouya.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.
26Anoshamisa muromo wake nouchenjeri; Rurimi rwake runodzidzisa nounyoro.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27Anotarira zvakanaka kufamba kwemhuri yake, Asingadyi zvokudya zvousimbe.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Vana vake vanomuka, vachimuti, Makaropafadzwa; Nomurume wakewo anomurumbidza, achiti,
28Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:
29Vakunda vazhinji vakaita zvakanaka,asi iwe unovakunda vose.
29Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.
30Zvinofadza zvinonyengedzera, unaki hahuna maturo; Asi mukadzi anotya Jehovha, ndiye anofanira kurumbidzwa.
30Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31Chimupai zvakafanira zvaakabata namaoko ake; Mabasa ake ngaamurumbidze pamasuwo eguta.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.