1My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
1Mwanakomana wangu, usakangamwa kudzidzisa kwangu; Asi moyo wako ngauchengete mirairo yangu;
2for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
2nekuti zvichakuwedzera mazuva mazhinji, Namakore ohupenyu, norugare.
3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
3Rudo nezvokwadi ngazvirege kukusiya; Uzvisungire pamutsipa wako; Uzvinyore pabwendefa romoyo wako;
4So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
4Nokudaro uchawana nyasha nenjere dzakanaka Pamberi paMwari navanhu.
5Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
5Vimba naJehovha nomoyo wako wose, Urege kusendama panjere dzako.
6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
6Umutende panzira dzako dzose, Agoruramisa makwara ako ose.
7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
7Usazviti ndakachenjera; Itya Jehovha, ubve pane zvakaipa;
8It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
8Zvichava mushonga womuviri wako, Nezvimwiwa zvamafupa ako.
9Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
9Kudza Jehovha nezvaunazvo, Uye nezvitsva zvazvose zvawakawana;
10so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
10Ipapo matura ako achazadzwa nezvakawanda, Makate ako achapfachuka newaini itsva.
11My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:
11Mwanakomana wangu, usazvidza kuranga kwaJehovha; Usaneta nokuraira kwake.
12for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
12nekuti Jehovha anoraira mudikamwa wake; Sezvinoita baba mwanakomana wavo wavanofarira.
13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
13Munhu, awana uchenjeri, anomufaro, Naiye munhu, anowana njere.
14For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
14nekuti kuhuwana ihwo kunopfuura kuwana sirivha; Nokufuma nahwo kunopfuura kufuma nendarama.
15She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
15Hunokosha kupfuura korari; Hakune fuma yako ingaenzaniswa nahwo.
16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
16Mazuva mazhinji ohupenyu ari muruoko rwahwo rworudyi; Muruoko rwahwo rworuboshwe mune fuma nokukudzwa.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
17Nzira dzahwo inzira dzezvinofadza; Makwara ahwo ose ndoorugare.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
18Ndiwo muti woupenyu kuna vanohunamatira; Mumwe nomumwe anohubata anomufaro.
19By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
19Jehovha akateya pasi nouchenjeri; Wakasimbisa kudenga-denga nenjere.
20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
20Mvura iri makadzika yakadzutuka nezivo yake; Denga rose rakadonha dova.
21My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
21Mwanakomana wangu, ngazvirege kubva pameso ako; Chengeta uchenjeri chaihwo nekungwara.
22so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
22Ipapo zvichava upenyu hwomweya Noukomba pamutsipa wako.
23Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
23Ipapo uchafamba nenzira yako wakasimba; Rutsoka rwako harungagumburwi.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
24Kana uchivata pasi haungatyi; Uye kana wavata pasi hope dzako dzichava dzakanaka.
25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
25Usatya hako chivhunduso chinokuwira kamwe-kamwe, Kunyange kuparadzwa kwavakaipa, kana kuchisvika;
26for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
26nekuti Jehovha achava chivimbo chako; Achachengeta rutsoka rwako, kuti rurege kubatwa.
27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
27Munhu, akafanirwa, usaramba kumuitira zvakanaka Kana ruoko rwako ruchinge rune simba kuzviita.
28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
28Usati kunowokwako, Enda, ugodzokazve, Mangwana ndichakupa; Kana uchinge unazvopo.
29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
29Usafunga kuitira wokwako zvakaipa, Zvaanogara hake newe achikutenda.
30Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
30Usarwa nomunhu pasina mhosva, Kana asina kukuitira zvakaipa.
31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
31Usagodora munhu anomanikidza; Usatevera kunyange nomumwe wemitovo yake.
32For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
32nekuti mutsauki inyangadzi kuna Jehovha; Asi ano hukama navakarurama.
33Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
33Kutukwa naJehovha kuri mumba mowakaipa; Asi unoropafadza ugaro hwevakarurama.
34Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
34Kana vari vadadi, anovadadira, Asi vanozvininipisa anovaitira nyasha.
35The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
35Vakachenjera vachagara nhaka yokukudzwa; Asi mapenzi anozviwanira kunyadziswa. Itya Jehovha, ubve pane zvakaipa;