1Ngati ukhala pansi kuti udye pamodzi ndi wolamulira,
uyangʼane bwino zimene zili pamaso pako,
2ngati ndiwe munthu wadyera
udziletse kuti usaonetse dyera lakolo.
3Usasirire zakudya zake,
pakuti zimenezo ndi zakudya zachinyengo.
4Usadzitopetse wekha ndi kufuna chuma,
ukhale ndi nzeru ya kudziretsa.
5Ukangoti wachipeza chumacho uwona posachedwa kuti palibepo.
Chumacho chimachita ngati chamera mapiko mwadzidzidzi
ndi kuwuluka kunka kumwamba ngati chiwombankhanga.
6Usadye chakudya cha munthu waumbombo,
usalakalake zakudya zake zokoma;
7paja iye ndi munthu amene
nthawi zonse amaganizira za mtengo wake
ngakhale amati kwa iwe, “Idya ndi kumwa,”
koma sakondweretsedwa nawe.
8Udzasanza zimene wadyazo
ndipo mawu ako woyamikira adzapita pachabe.
9Usayankhule munthu wopusa akumva,
pakuti adzanyoza mawu ako anzeru.
10Usasunthe mwala wa mʼmalire akalekale
kapena kulowerera mʼminda ya ana amasiye,
11paja Mpulumutsi wawo ndi wamphamvu;
iye adzawateteza pa milandu yawo kutsutsana nawe.
12Mtima wako uzikhala pa malangizo
ndipo makutu ako azimvetsera mawu a chidziwitso.
13Usaleke kumulangiza mwana;
ngati umulanga ndi chikwapu sadzafa.
14Ukamukwapula ndi tsatsa
udzapulumutsa moyo wake.
15Mwana wanga, ngati mtima wako ukhala wanzeru,
inenso mtima wanga udzakondwera.
16Mtima wanga udzakondwera
pamene ndidzakumva ukuyankhula zolungama.
17Mtima wako usachite nsanje ndi anthu ochimwa,
koma uziopa Yehova tsiku ndi tsiku.
18Ndithu za mʼtsogolo zilipo
ndipo chiyembekezo chakocho sichidzalephereka.
19Tamvera mwana wanga, ndipo ukhale wanzeru,
mtima wako uwuyendetse mʼnjira yabwino.
20Usakhale pakati pa anthu amene amaledzera
kapena pakati pa anthu amene amadya nyama mwadyera.
21Paja anthu oledzera ndi adyera amadzakhala amphawi
ndipo aulesi adzavala sanza.
22Mvera abambo ako amene anakubala,
usanyoze amayi ako pamene akalamba.
23Gula choonadi ndipo usachigulitse;
ugulenso nzeru, mwambo ndiponso kumvetsa zinthu bwino.
24Abambo a munthu wolungama ali ndi chimwemwe chachikulu;
Wobala mwana wanzeru adzakondwera naye.
25Abambo ndi amayi ako asangalale;
amene anakubereka akondwere!
26Mwana wanga, undikhulupirire
ndipo maso ako apenyetsetse njira zanga.
27Paja mkazi wachiwerewere ali ngati dzenje lozama;
ndipo mkazi woyendayenda ali ngati chitsime chopapatiza.
28Amabisala ngati mbala yachifwamba,
ndipo amuna amakhala osakhulupirika chifukwa cha iyeyu.
29Ndani ali ndi tsoka? Ndani ali ndi chisoni?
Ndani ali pa mkangano? Ndani ali ndi madandawulo?
Ndani ali ndi zipsera zosadziwika uko zachokera? Ndani ali ndi maso ofiira?
30Ndi amene amakhalitsa pa mowa,
amene amapita nalawa vinyo osakanizidwa.
31Usatengeke mtima ndi kufiira kwa vinyo,
pamene akuwira mʼchikho
pamene akumweka bwino!
32Potsiriza pake amaluma ngati njoka,
ndipo amajompha ngati mphiri.
33Maso ako adzaona zinthu zachilendo
ndipo maganizo ndi mawu ako adzakhala osokonekera.
34Udzakhala ngati munthu amene ali gone pakati pa nyanja,
kapena ngati munthu wogona pa msonga ya mlongoti ya ngalawa.
35Iwe udzanena kuti, “Anandimenya, koma sindinapwetekedwe!
Andimenya koma sindinamve kanthu!
Kodi ndidzuka nthawi yanji?
Ndiye ndifunefunenso vinyo wina.”
Saying 7
1When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what23:1 Or who is before you,
2and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
3Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
Saying 8
4Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Saying 9
6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
do not crave his delicacies;
7for he is the kind of person
who is always thinking about the cost.23:7 Or for as he thinks within himself, / so he is; or for as he puts on a feast, / so he is
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up the little you have eaten
and will have wasted your compliments.
Saying 10
9Do not speak to fools,
for they will scorn your prudent words.
Saying 11
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone
or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Defender is strong;
he will take up their case against you.
Saying 12
12Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Saying 13
13Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
14Punish them with the rod
and save them from death.
Saying 14
15My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad indeed;
16my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
Saying 15
17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 16
19Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Saying 17
22Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Saying 18
26My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes delight in my ways,
27for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28Like a bandit she lies in wait
and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Saying 19
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”
