1Usagodora vanhu vakaipa; Usashuva kuva pakati pavo.
1Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2nekuti moyo yavo inorangarira kuparadza; Nemiromo yavo inotaura zvakashata.
2for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3Imba inovakwa nouchenjeri; Inosimbiswa nenjere.
3Through wisdom is a house built, 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 substance.
5Munhu akachenjera ane simba; Zvirokwazvo, munhu wezivo anowedzera simba
5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6nekuti anofanira kurwa pfumo amborairirwa nouchenjeri; Asi kuna varairiri vazhinji ndiko kune ruponeso.
6For with good advice shalt thou 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 will not open his mouth in the gate.
8Anorangarira kuita zvakaipa, Achanzi navanhu mwene wezvakashata.
8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
9Mufungo woupenzi zvivi; Mudadi anonyangadza vanhu.
9The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10Kana ukapera simba nezuva rokutambudzika, Simba rako ishoma.
10[If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
11Rwira vanoiswa kurufu; Novourawa usarega kuvadzosa.
11Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
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 it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
13Mwanakomana wangu, idya uchi, nekuti hwakanaka; Nomusvi unozipa pamukamwa wako.
13Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
14Uchaona kuti ndizvo zvichaita uchenjeri kumweya wako; Kana wahuwana, mubayiro uchavapo, Nezvawakatarira hazvingaparadzwi.
14so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
15Iwe munhu akaipa, usavandira panogara wakarurama; Usaparadza paanozorora.
15Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
16nekuti munhu akarurama angawa kanomwe, achisimukazve; Asi vakaipa vanowisirwa pasi nenjodzi.
16For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
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 stumbleth;
18Kuti Jehovha arege kuzviona, zvisamufadza, Akazodzora kutsamwa kwake kwaari.
18lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
19Usatsamwa nokuda kwavaiti vezvakaipa; Uye usagodora vakaipa.
19Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
20nekuti munhu akaipa haana mubayiro; Mwenje wakaipa uchadzimwa.
20for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21Mwanakomana wangu, itya Jehovha namambo; Usafambidzana navanongoshanduka shanduka.
21My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle 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 who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23Zvirevo izviwo zvakabva kuna vakachenjera, Kutsaura vanhu pakutonga hazvina kunaka
23These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
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 cometh 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 put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
28Usava chapupu chinopomera wokwako asina mhosva; Usanyengedzera nemiromo yako.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive 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 a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a 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 thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
32Ipapo ndakacherekedza, ndikanatsofunga; Ndakaona, ndikadzidziswa.
32Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
33Kumbovata zvishomanene, kumbotsumwaira zvishomanene, Kumbofungatira maoko zvishomanene, ndizorore;
33-- A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
34Saizvozvo urombo hwako huchasvika segororo, Nokushaiwa kwako somunhu akashonga nhumbi dzokurwa.
34So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.