1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
1Usagodora vanhu vakaipa; Usashuva kuva pakati pavo.
2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
2nekuti moyo yavo inorangarira kuparadza; Nemiromo yavo inotaura zvakashata.
3Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
3Imba inovakwa nouchenjeri; Inosimbiswa nenjere.
4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
4Nezivo dzimba dzomukati dzinozadzwa Nefuma yose inokosha inofadza.
5A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
5Munhu akachenjera ane simba; Zvirokwazvo, munhu wezivo anowedzera simba
6for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
6nekuti anofanira kurwa pfumo amborairirwa nouchenjeri; Asi kuna varairiri vazhinji ndiko kune ruponeso.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
7Uchenjeri hahusvikirwi nebenzi; Harishamisi muromo waro padare.
8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
8Anorangarira kuita zvakaipa, Achanzi navanhu mwene wezvakashata.
9The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
9Mufungo woupenzi zvivi; Mudadi anonyangadza vanhu.
10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
10Kana ukapera simba nezuva rokutambudzika, Simba rako ishoma.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
11Rwira vanoiswa kurufu; Novourawa usarega kuvadzosa.
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?
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?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
13Mwanakomana wangu, idya uchi, nekuti hwakanaka; Nomusvi unozipa pamukamwa wako.
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.
14Uchaona kuti ndizvo zvichaita uchenjeri kumweya wako; Kana wahuwana, mubayiro uchavapo, Nezvawakatarira hazvingaparadzwi.
15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:
15Iwe munhu akaipa, usavandira panogara wakarurama; Usaparadza paanozorora.
16for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
16nekuti munhu akarurama angawa kanomwe, achisimukazve; Asi vakaipa vanowisirwa pasi nenjodzi.
17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
17Usafarisisa kana muvengi wako achiwa; Kana achiwisirwa pasi, moyo wako ngaurege kufara.
18lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
18Kuti Jehovha arege kuzviona, zvisamufadza, Akazodzora kutsamwa kwake kwaari.
19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
19Usatsamwa nokuda kwavaiti vezvakaipa; Uye usagodora vakaipa.
20for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
20nekuti munhu akaipa haana mubayiro; Mwenje wakaipa uchadzimwa.
21My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
21Mwanakomana wangu, itya Jehovha namambo; Usafambidzana navanongoshanduka shanduka.
22for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
22nekuti nhamo yavo ichamuka pakarepo; Nokuguma kwamakore avo, ndiani achazviziva?
23These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
23Zvirevo izviwo zvakabva kuna vakachenjera, Kutsaura vanhu pakutonga hazvina kunaka
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
24Anoti kune wakaipa, Akarurama, Vanhu vachamutuka, nendudzi dzichamusema.
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
25Asi vanomuraira, vachaitirwa zvakanaka; ropafadzo yakanaka ichauya pamusoro pavo.
26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
26Anopindura namashoko akarurama, unotsvoda nemiromo.
27Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
27Gadzira basa rako kunze, Uzvigadzirire iro pamunda; Pashure ugovaka imba yako.
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
28Usava chapupu chinopomera wokwako asina mhosva; Usanyengedzera nemiromo yako.
29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
29Usati, Sezvaakandiitira, ndizvo zvandichamuitirawo; Ndicharipira munhu sezvaakaita iye.
30I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
30Ndakapfuura napamunda wesimbe, Napamunda wemizambiringa womunhu anoshaiwa njere;
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
31Tarirai, akanga angomera mhinzwa chete; Munda wose wakange wakafukidzwa norukato, Norusvingo rwawo rwamabwe rwakanga rwakoromoka.
32Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
32Ipapo ndakacherekedza, ndikanatsofunga; Ndakaona, ndikadzidziswa.
33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
33Kumbovata zvishomanene, kumbotsumwaira zvishomanene, Kumbofungatira maoko zvishomanene, ndizorore;
34so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
34Saizvozvo urombo hwako huchasvika segororo, Nokushaiwa kwako somunhu akashonga nhumbi dzokurwa.