1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.25.3 is…: Heb. there is no searching
4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:25.6 Put…: Heb. Set not out thy glory 7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:25.9 a secret…: or, the secret of 10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.25.11 fitly…: Heb. spoken upon his wheels 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.25.14 of a…: Heb. in a gift of falsehood 15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.25.17 Withdraw…: or, Let thy foot be seldom in25.17 weary…: Heb. full of thee 18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.25.23 driveth…: or, bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance 24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. 25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Miyambo Ina ya Solomoni
1Iyi ndi miyambo inanso ya Solomoni, imene anthu a Hezekiya mfumu ya ku Yuda analemba.
2Ulemerero wa Mulungu uli pa kubisa zinthu;
ulemerero wa mafumu uli pa kufufuza zinthuzo.
3Monga momwe kwatalikira kumwamba ndi momwe kulili kuzama kwa dziko lapansi,
ndi momwemonso alili maganizo a mfumu kusadziwika kwake.
4Chotsa zoyipa mʼsiliva
ndipo wosula adzapanga naye ziwiya.
5Chotsa munthu woyipa pamaso pa mfumu;
ndipo ufumu wake udzakhazikika mu chilungamo.
6Usamadzikuze ukakhala pamaso pa mfumu,
ndipo usamakhale pamalo pa anthu apamwamba;
7paja ndi bwino kuti mfumu ichite kukuwuza kuti, “Bwera pamwamba pano,”
kulekana ndi kuti ikuchititse manyazi chifukwa cha wina wokuposa.
Chimene wachiona ndi maso ako,
8usafulumire kupita nacho ku bwalo la milandu
nanga udzachita chiyani pa mapeto pake
ngati mnansi wako adzakuchititsa manyazi?
9Kamba mlandu ndi mnansi wako,
koma osawulula chinsinsi cha munthu wina
10kuopa kuti wina akamva mawu ako adzakuchititsa manyazi
ndipo mbiri yako yoyipa sidzatha.
11Mawu amodzi woyankhulidwa moyenera
ali ngati zokongoletsera zagolide mʼzotengera zasiliva.
12Kwa munthu womvetsa bwino, kudzudzula kwa munthu wanzeru kuli ngati ndolo zagolide
kapena chodzikongoletsera china cha golide wabwino kwambiri.
13Wamthenga wodalirika ali ngati madzi ozizira pa nthawi yokolola
kwa anthu amene amutuma;
iye amaziziritsa mtima bwana wake.
14Munthu wonyadira mphatso imene sayipereka
ali ngati mitambo ndi mphepo yopanda mvula.
15Kupirira ndiye kumagonjetsa mfumu,
ndipo kufewa mʼkamwa kutha kumafatsitsa munthu wowuma mtima.
16Ngati upeza uchi, ingodya okukwanira,
kuopa ungakoledwe nawo ndi kuyamba kusanza.
17Uzipita kamodzikamodzi ku nyumba ya mnzako
ukawirikiza kupita, udzadana naye.
18Munthu wochitira mnzake umboni wonama,
ali ngati chibonga kapena lupanga kapena muvi wakuthwa.
19Kudalira munthu wosankhulupirika pa nthawi ya mavuto,
kuli ngati dzino lobowoka kapena phazi lolumala.
20Kuyimbira nyimbo munthu wachisoni
kuli ngati kuvula zovala pa nyengo yozizira
kapena kuthira mchere pa chilonda.
21Ngati mdani wako ali ndi njala, mupatse chakudya kuti adye;
ngati ali ndi ludzu mupatse madzi kuti amwe.
22Pochita izi, udzamusenzetsa makala a moto pa mutu pake,
ndipo Yehova adzakupatsa mphotho.
23Monga momwe mphepo yampoto imabweretsera mvula,
chonchonso mjedu umadzetsa mkwiyo.
24Nʼkwabwino kukhala pa ngodya ya denga
kuposa kukhala mʼnyumba ndi mkazi wolongolola.
25Mthenga wabwino wochokera ku dziko lakutali
ali ngati madzi ozizira kwa munthu waludzu.
26Munthu wolungama amene amagonjera munthu woyipa
ali ngati kasupe wodzaza ndi matope kapena chitsime cha madzi oyipa.
27Sibwino kudya uchi wambiri,
sibwinonso kudzifunira wekha ulemu.
28Munthu amene samatha kudziretsa
ali ngati mzinda umene adani awuthyola ndi kuwusiya wopanda malinga.
