¹Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

¹Uchenjeri hwakavaka imba yahwo; Hwakaveza mbiru dzahwo nomwe;

²She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

²Hwakabaya zvipfuwo zvahwo; Hwakavhenganisa waini yahwo; Hwakagadzirawo tafura yahwo.

³She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

³Hwakatuma varandakadzi vahwo; hunodanidzira pamitunhu yeguta, huchiti,

⁴“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

⁴Asina mano ngaatsaukire muno; Asina njere, hunoti kwaari,

⁵“Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

⁵Uyai mudye chingwa changu, Mumwe waini yandakavhenganisa.

⁶Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”

⁶Regai kusasvinuka murarame; Mufambe nenzira yenjere.

⁷He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

⁷Munhu, anoraira mudadiri anozvitsvakira kunyadziswa; Anotuka munhu wakaipa achasvibiswa.

⁸Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

⁸Usaraira mudadiri, kuti arege kukuvenga; Raira munhu wakachenjera, iye achakuda.

⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

⁹Ipa wakachenjera dzidzo, ipapo iye achawedzerwa huchenjeri; Dzidzisa wakarurama, ipapo iye achawedzerwa zivo.

¹⁰The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹⁰Kuvamba kouchenjeri ndiko kutya Iehovha., Kuziva Mutsvene ndidzo njere.

¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

¹¹nekuti neni mazuva ako achaitwa mazhinji, Makore oupenyu hwako achawedzerwa.

¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

¹²Kana wakachenjera, iwe, wakazvichenjerera hako; Kana uri mudadiri, iwe woga uchava nemhosva yazvo.

¹³The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

¹³Mukadzi benzi anopupira; Haana mano, haazivi chinhu.

¹⁴She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁴Anogara pamukova weimba yake, Pachigaro pamitunhu yeguta.

¹⁵To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

¹⁵Kuti adanidzire kuna vanopfuura napo, Ivo vanorurama nenzira dzavo, achiti,

¹⁶“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

¹⁶Ani naani asina mano, ngaatsaukire muno; Asine njere, mukadzi anoti kwaari,

¹⁷“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

¹⁷Mvura yabiwa inozipa, Chingwa chinodyiwa pakavanda chinonaka.

¹⁸But he doesn’t know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol Sheol is the place of the dead. .

¹⁸Asi haazivi kuti vanopindamo vanofa; Kuti vakakokerwa naye vari mukati-kati meSheori.