1The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
1Mashoko amambo Remueri; zvirevo zvaakadzidziswa namai vake.
2“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
2Nhai, mwanakomana wangu! Nhai, mwanakomana wemhiko dzangu!
3Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
3Rega kupa vakadzi simba rako, Nenzira dzako kune zvinoparadza madzimambo.
4It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
4Iwe Remueri, hazvifaniri madzimambo, hazvifaniri madzimambo kumwa waini; Namachinda kuti, Doro riripiko?
5lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
5Varege kumwa, vachizokangamwa murayiro, Varege kukanganisa kururamisira vamwe vanotambudzika.
6Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:
6Ipai anoda kuparara doro, Neanomoyo unorwadza waini;
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7Ngaamwe, akangamwe urombo hwake, Arege kucharangarira kutambudzika kwake.
8Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
8Shamisira mbeveve muromo wako, Urwire mhaka dzavose vakatemerwa kuparadzwah.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
9Shamisa muromo wako, utonge zvakarurama, Ururamisire murombo neanoshaiwa.
10 Proverbs 31:10-31 form an acrostic, with each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in order. Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
10Ndianiko angawana mukadzi anoshingairira zvakanaka? nekuti mutengo wake unokunda kwazvo mutengo wamaparera.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
11moyo womurume wake unomutenda, Naiye haangashaiwi fuma.
12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
12Unoitira murume wake zvakanaka, haamuitiri zvakaipa Mazuva ose oupenyu hwake.
13She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
13Anotsvaka mvere noruchinda, Achibata namaoko ake nomufaro.
14She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
14Akafanana nezvikepe zvavatengesi; Anondotora zvokudya zvake kure.
15She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
15Anomuka huchiri usiku, Nokupa mhuri yake zvokudya, Navashandiri vake basa ravo.
16She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
16Anorangarira munda, ndokuutenga; Anosima munda wemizambiringa nezvaakawana namaoko ake.
17She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
17Anozvisunga chiuno nesimba, Nokusimbisa maoko ake.
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
18Anoona kuti kushambadzira kwake kwabatsira; Mwenje wake haudzimi vusiku.
19She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
19Anotambanudzira ruoko rwake kune chokurukisa; Maoko ake anobata chinorukwa.
20She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
20Anotambanudzira murombo ruoko rwake; Anotandavadzira anoshaiwa maoko ake.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
21Haatyi chando pamusoro peimba yake, nekuti mhuri yake yose yakafuka nguvo tsvuku.
22She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
22Anozviitira mitsamhiro inoukomba; nguvo yake mucheka wakaisvonaka nomutsvuku.
23Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
23Murume wake anozikamwa pamasuwo eguta, Kana agere pakati pavakuru venyika.
24She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
24Anoita zvokufuka zvomucheka achizvitengesa, Anovigira vatengesi zvisungo zvezviuno.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
25Simba nokukudzwa ndizvo zvokufuka zvake; Anoseka kana achifunga zuva inouya.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
26Anoshamisa muromo wake nouchenjeri; Rurimi rwake runodzidzisa nounyoro.
27She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
27Anotarira zvakanaka kufamba kwemhuri yake, Asingadyi zvokudya zvousimbe.
28Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
28Vana vake vanomuka, vachimuti, Makaropafadzwa; Nomurume wakewo anomurumbidza, achiti,
29“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
29Vakunda vazhinji vakaita zvakanaka,asi iwe unovakunda vose.
30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
30Zvinofadza zvinonyengedzera, unaki hahuna maturo; Asi mukadzi anotya Jehovha, ndiye anofanira kurumbidzwa.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
31Chimupai zvakafanira zvaakabata namaoko ake; Mabasa ake ngaamurumbidze pamasuwo eguta.