1Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
2Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
3Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.
9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
10Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
15A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
17As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
18The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
20Death and Destruction27:20 Hebrew Abaddon are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.
21The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
22Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
23Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.
1Usamanyadire za mawa,
pakuti sudziwa zimene zidzachitike pa tsikulo.
2Munthu wina akutamande, koma osati wekha;
mlendo akakutamanda, ndiponi koma osati ndi pakamwa pako.
3Mwala ndi wolemera ndipo mchenganso ndi wolemera kwambiri,
koma makani a chitsiru ndi oposa zonsezo kulemera kwake.
4Mkwiyo umadzetsa nkhanza ndipo kupsa mtima kumachititsa zoopsa.
Koma nsanje imachita zoopsa zopambana.
5Kudzudzula munthu poyera nʼkwabwino
kuposa chikondi chobisika.
6Munthu amene amakukonda ngakhale akupweteke zili bwino,
koma mdani wako amakupsompsona mwachinyengo.
7Iye amene wakhuta amayipidwa ndi chisa cha uchi,
koma kwa munthu wanjala ngakhale chimene chili chowawa chimamukomera.
8Munthu amene wasochera ku nyumba kwake,
ali monga mbalame imene yasochera pa chisa chake.
9Mafuta ndi zonunkhira zimasangalatsa mtima,
ndipo kukoma mtima kwa bwenzi kwagona pa malangizo ake.
10Usasiye bwenzi lako ndiponso bwenzi la abambo ako,
ndipo usapite ku nyumba ya mʼbale wako pamene wakumana ndi mavuto;
mnzako wokhala naye pafupi amaposa mʼbale wako wokhala kutali.
11Mwana wanga, khala wanzeru, ndipo ukondweretse mtima wanga;
pamenepo ine ndidzatha kuyankha aliyense amene amandinyoza.
12Munthu wochenjera akaona choopsa amabisala,
koma munthu wopusa amangopitirira ndipo amakumana ndi mavuto.
13Utenge chovala cha munthu amene waperekera mlendo chikole;
ngati chigwiriro chifukwa waperekera chikole mlendo wosadziwika.
14Ngati munthu apatsa mnzake moni mofuwula mmamawa kwambiri,
anthu adzamuyesa kuti akutemberera.
15Mkazi wolongolola ali ngati
mvula yamvumbi.
16Kumuletsa mkazi wotereyu zimenezi zili ngati kuletsa mphepo
kapena kufumbata mafuta mʼdzanja.
17Chitsulo chimanoledwa ndi chitsulo chinzake,
chomwechonso munthu amanoledwa ndi munthu mnzake.
18Amene amasamalira mtengo wamkuyu adzadya zipatso zake,
ndipo iye amene amasamalira mbuye wake adzalandira ulemu.
19Monga momwe nkhope imaonekera mʼmadzi,
chomwechonso mtima wa munthu umadziwika ndi ntchito zake.
20Manda sakhuta,
nawonso maso a munthu sakhuta.
21Siliva amasungunulira mu uvuni ndipo golide mʼngʼanjo,
chomwechonso munthu amadziwika ndi zomwe akudzitamandira nazo.
22Ngakhale utakonola chitsiru mu mtondo
ndi musi ngati chimanga,
uchitsiru wakewo sudzachoka.
23Uzidziwe bwino nkhosa zako momwe zilili.
Kodi usamalire bwino ziweto zako?
24Paja chuma sichikhala mpaka muyaya,
ndipo ufumu sukhala mpaka mibado yonse.
25Pamene udzu watha, msipu nʼkumera;
ndipo atatuta udzu wa ku mapiri,
26ana ankhosa adzakupatsani chovala
ndipo pogulitsa mbuzi mudzapeza ndalama yogulira munda.
27Mudzakhala ndi mkaka wambuzi wambiri
kuti muzidya inuyo ndi banja lanu
ndi kudyetsa antchito anu aakazi.
