1Munthu wokonda kukhala yekha amafunafuna zomukomera yekha;
iye amatsutsana ndi malangizo onse anzeru.
2Chitsiru chilibe chidwi chomvetsa zinthu,
koma chimakondwera ndi kuyankhula maganizo ake okha.
3Kuyipa mtima kukabwera, manyozonso amabwera.
Manyazi amabwera pamodzi ndi kunyozeka.
4Mawu a munthu ali ngati madzi akuya,
kasupe wa nzeru ndiye mtsinje wotumphuka.
5Si kwabwino kukondera munthu woyipa pa milandu;
kapena kupondereza munthu wosalakwa.
6Mawu a chitsiru amautsa mkangano;
pakamwa pake pamayitana mkwapulo.
7Pakamwa pa chitsiru ndipo pamabweretsa chiwonongeko chake,
ndipo milomo yake ili ngati msampha wa moyo wake.
8Mawu a miseche ali ngati chakudya chokoma;
amalowa mʼmimba mwa munthu.
9Munthu waulesi pa ntchito yake
ali pachibale ndi munthu amene amawononga zinthu.
10Dzina la Yehova lili ngati nsanja yolimba;
wolungama amathawiramo napulumuka.
11Chuma cha anthu olemera chili ngati mzinda wake wolimba;
chili ngati khoma lalitali limene amaganiza kuti limutchinjiriza.
12Chiwonongeko chisanafike, mtima wa munthu umakhala wonyada,
koma ulemu umatsatira kudzichepetsa.
13Ukayankha usanamvetse bwino nkhani,
umenewo ndi uchitsiru ndipo umachita manyazi.
14Mtima wa munthu utha kupirira pa matenda,
koma munthu akataya mtima ndani angathe kumulimbitsanso.
15Munthu wanzeru amawonjezera nzeru zina;
amafunafuna kudziwa bwino zinthu.
16Mphatso ya munthu imamutsekulira njira
yomufikitsa pamaso pa anthu akuluakulu.
17Amene amayamba kufotokoza mlandu wake amaoneka ngati wolungama ndiye
mpaka mnzake atabwera ndi kumufunsa bwino.
18Kuchita maere kumathetsa mikangano;
amalekanitsa okangana amphamvu.
19Mʼbale amene wamuthandiza amakhala ngati mzinda wolimba,
koma kukangana naye kumatsekereza thandizo.
20Munthu amapeza bwino malingana ndi zoyankhula zake.
Adzakhuta ndi zipatso za pakamwa pake.
21Mawu ako angathe kukuphetsa kapena kukukhalitsa moyo.
Wokonda kuyankhulayankhula adzadya zipatso zake.
22Wapeza mkazi wapeza chinthu chabwino
ndipo Yehova amamukomera mtima.
23Munthu wosauka amapempha
koma munthu wolemera amayankha mwaukali.
24Pali abwenzi amene chibwenzi chawo nʼchapamaso,
koma pali bwenzi limene limakukangamira kuposa mʼbale wako.
1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.18.1 Through…: or, He that separateth himself seeketh according to his desire, and intermeddleth in every business 2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. 4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. 5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.18.8 talebearer: or, whisperer18.8 as wounds: or, like as when men are wounded18.8 innermost…: Heb. chambers 9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.18.10 safe: Heb. set aloft 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.18.13 answereth…: Heb. returneth a word 14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
