1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
1imwi vanakomana, inzwai kurairira kwababa venyu; Teererai, muzive njere.
2for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
2nekuti ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka; Regai kurasha murayiro wangu.
3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
3nekuti ini ndakanga ndiri mwanakomana kuna baba vangu, Mwana oga akadikamwa kwazvo, namai vangu;
4He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
4Ivo baba vakandidzidzisa, vakati kwandiri, moyo wako ngaunyatsobata mashoko angu; Chengeta mirairo yangu, urarame.
5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
5Zviwanire uchenjeri, zviwanire njere; Regai kukangamwa kana kutsauka pamashoko omuromo wangu;
6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
6Usahurasha, hugokuchengeta; Uhude, hugokurinda.
7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
7Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru kune zvose; saka uzviwanire uchenjeri; Uzviwanire njere nezvose zvaunazvo.
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
8Uhukudze, hugokukwiridza iwe; Huchakuvigira kukudzwa, kana uchihumbundikira.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
9Huchapa musoro wako chishongo chakanaka; Huchakuisira korona inobwinya.
10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
10Chinzwa iwe mwanakomana wangu, ugamuchire zvandinoreva; Makore oupenyu hwako agova mazhinji.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
11Ndakakudzidzisa panzira youchenjeri; Ndakakufambisa pamakwara akarurama.
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
12Kana uchifamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi; Kana uchimhanya, haungagumburwi.
13Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
13Natsa kubata kurairirwa; usakuregedza; Ukuchengete, nekuti ndihwo hupenyu hwako.
14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
14Usapinda pagwara ravakaipa, Usafamba nenzira yavakashata.
15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
15Uinzvenge, usapinda pairi; Tsauka pairi, upfuure hako.
16For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
16nekuti havavati, kana vasingaiti zvakashata; Vanotorerwa hope dzavo, kana vasingagumbusi vamwe.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
17nekuti vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, Nokumwa waini yokumanikidza.
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
18Asi gwara ravakarurama rakaita sechiedza chamambakwedza, Chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pamasikati makuru.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
19Nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima; Havazivi chingavagumbusa.
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
20Mwanakomana wangu, teerera mashoko angu; Rerekera nzeve yako kune zvandinoreva.
21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
21Urambe uchitarira, Uachengete mukati momoyo wako.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
22nekuti ndihwo hupenyu kuna vanowawana, Noukukutu bwemuviri yavo yose.
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
23Chengeta moyo wako kupfuura zvose zvinofanira kurindwa; nekuti mukati mawo ndimo mune zvitubu zvoupenyu.
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
24Bvisa kwauri nhema dzomuromo, Kutsauka kwemiromo ngakuve kure newe.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
25Meso ako ngaarurame pakutarira; Mafungiro ameso ako ngaatarire mberi kwako.
26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
26Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara; Nzira dzako dzose dzive dzakasimba.
27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
27Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; Rutsoka rwako urubvise pane zvakaipa.