1Usagodora vanhu vakaipa; Usashuva kuva pakati pavo.
1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2nekuti moyo yavo inorangarira kuparadza; Nemiromo yavo inotaura zvakashata.
2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3Imba inovakwa nouchenjeri; Inosimbiswa nenjere.
3Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4Nezivo dzimba dzomukati dzinozadzwa Nefuma yose inokosha inofadza.
4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5Munhu akachenjera ane simba; Zvirokwazvo, munhu wezivo anowedzera simba
5A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6nekuti anofanira kurwa pfumo amborairirwa nouchenjeri; Asi kuna varairiri vazhinji ndiko kune ruponeso.
6for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
7Uchenjeri hahusvikirwi nebenzi; Harishamisi muromo waro padare.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8Anorangarira kuita zvakaipa, Achanzi navanhu mwene wezvakashata.
8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9Mufungo woupenzi zvivi; Mudadi anonyangadza vanhu.
9The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10Kana ukapera simba nezuva rokutambudzika, Simba rako ishoma.
10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11Rwira vanoiswa kurufu; Novourawa usarega kuvadzosa.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the 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 you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13Mwanakomana wangu, idya uchi, nekuti hwakanaka; Nomusvi unozipa pamukamwa wako.
13My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
14Uchaona kuti ndizvo zvichaita uchenjeri kumweya wako; Kana wahuwana, mubayiro uchavapo, Nezvawakatarira hazvingaparadzwi.
14so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.
15Iwe munhu akaipa, usavandira panogara wakarurama; Usaparadza paanozorora.
15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:
16nekuti munhu akarurama angawa kanomwe, achisimukazve; Asi vakaipa vanowisirwa pasi nenjodzi.
16for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17Usafarisisa kana muvengi wako achiwa; Kana achiwisirwa pasi, moyo wako ngaurege kufara.
17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18Kuti Jehovha arege kuzviona, zvisamufadza, Akazodzora kutsamwa kwake kwaari.
18lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19Usatsamwa nokuda kwavaiti vezvakaipa; Uye usagodora vakaipa.
19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
20nekuti munhu akaipa haana mubayiro; Mwenje wakaipa uchadzimwa.
20for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21Mwanakomana wangu, itya Jehovha namambo; Usafambidzana navanongoshanduka shanduka.
21My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
22nekuti nhamo yavo ichamuka pakarepo; Nokuguma kwamakore avo, ndiani achazviziva?
22for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23Zvirevo izviwo zvakabva kuna vakachenjera, Kutsaura vanhu pakutonga hazvina kunaka
23These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24Anoti kune wakaipa, Akarurama, Vanhu vachamutuka, nendudzi dzichamusema.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
25Asi vanomuraira, vachaitirwa zvakanaka; ropafadzo yakanaka ichauya pamusoro pavo.
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26Anopindura namashoko akarurama, unotsvoda nemiromo.
26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27Gadzira basa rako kunze, Uzvigadzirire iro pamunda; Pashure ugovaka imba yako.
27Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28Usava chapupu chinopomera wokwako asina mhosva; Usanyengedzera nemiromo yako.
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29Usati, Sezvaakandiitira, ndizvo zvandichamuitirawo; Ndicharipira munhu sezvaakaita iye.
29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has 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, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31Tarirai, akanga angomera mhinzwa chete; Munda wose wakange wakafukidzwa norukato, Norusvingo rwawo rwamabwe rwakanga rwakoromoka.
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32Ipapo ndakacherekedza, ndikanatsofunga; Ndakaona, ndikadzidziswa.
32Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33Kumbovata zvishomanene, kumbotsumwaira zvishomanene, Kumbofungatira maoko zvishomanene, ndizorore;
33a 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 your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.