1An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
1Anozviparadzanisa navamwe, anongotsvaka kuda kwake, Anorwa nohuchenjeri hwose kwahwo.
2A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
2Benzi harifariri kunzwisisa, Asi kuti moyo waro ufukurwe.
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
3Kana akaipa achisvika, kuzvidza kwasvikawo; Pamwechete nezvinonyadzisa, kushora kunouyawo.
4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
4Mashoko omuromo womunhu akaita semvura yakadzika; Sorukova runoyerera, setsime rouchenjeri.
5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
5Kutsaura akaipa hazvina kunaka; Kana kuramba akarurama pakutonga.
6A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
6Miromo yebenzi inouyisa kukakavara; Muromo waro unodana kurohwa.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
7Muromo webenzi ndiko kuparadzwa kwaro; Miromo yaro musungo womweya waro.
8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
8Mashoko omucheri akaita sezvimedu zvinozipa, Zvinoburukira mukati-kati momuviri.
9One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
9Naiye ane usimbe pakubata kwake, Munin'ina womuparadzi.
10The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
10Zita raJehovha ishongwe yakasimba; Wakarurama anovangiramo ndokuchengetwa.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
11fuma yomufumi ndiwo musha wake wakasimba, Uye sorusvingo rurefu pakufunga kwake.
12Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
12moyo womunhu anozvikudza kuparadzwa kusati kwasvika; Kuzvininipisa kunotangira kukudzwa.
13He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
13Anopindura asati anzwa, Zvichava kwaari upenzi nokunyadziswa.
14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
14Mweya womunhu unomusimbisa pakurwara kwake; Asi mweya wakaputsika ungamutswa nani?
15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
15moyo wowakachenjera unowana zivo; Nzeve yowakachenjera inotsvaka zivo.
16A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
16Chipo chomunhu chinomuwanira nzvimbo, Chinomuisa pamberi pavakuru.
17He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
17Anotanga kutambirwa mhaka yake anenge akarurama , Asi wokwake anosvika womuferefeta.
18The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
18Mijenya inogumisa kukakavara; Inotema chirevo pakati pavane simba.
19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
19Hama yatadzirwa inopfuura guta rakasimba; Kukakavara kwakafanana nezvipfigiso zveimba yamambo.
20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
20Dumbu romunhu rinogutiswa nezvibereko zvomuromo wake; Achagutiswa nezvakawanda zvemiromo yake.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
21Rurimi rune simba pamusoro porufu noupenyu; Vanoruda vachadya zvibereko zvarwo.
22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
22Awana mukadzi awana chinhu chakanaka, Avigirwa nyasha naJehovha.
23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
23Murombo anokumbira achinyengetera; Asi mufumi anopindura nehasha.
24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
24Munhu ane shamwari zhinji anoparadzwa; Asi shamwari iriko inonamatira kupfuura hama.