1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.
11Death and Destruction15:11 Hebrew Abaddon lie open before the Lord –
how much more do human hearts!
12Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a dish of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisors they succeed.
23A person finds joy in giving an apt reply –
and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the prudent
to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
26The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but gracious words are pure in his sight.
27The greedy bring ruin to their households,
but the one who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31Whoever heeds life-giving correction
will be at home among the wise.
32Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honour.
1Kuyankha kofatsa kumathetsa mkwiyo,
koma mawu ozaza amautsa ukali.
2Munthu wanzeru amayankhula zinthu za nzeru,
koma pakamwa pa zitsiru pamatulutsa za uchitsiru.
3Maso a Yehova ali ponseponse,
amayangʼana pa oyipa ndi abwino omwe.
4Kuyankhula kodekha kuli ngati mtengo wopatsa moyo,
koma kuyankhula kopotoka kumapweteka mtima.
5Chitsiru chimanyoza mwambo wa abambo ake,
koma wochenjera amasamala chidzudzulo.
6Munthu wolungama amakhala ndi chuma chambiri,
zimene woyipa amapindula nazo zimamugwetsa mʼmavuto.
7Pakamwa pa anthu anzeru pamafalitsa nzeru;
koma mitima ya zitsiru sitero.
8Nsembe za anthu oyipa zimamunyansa Yehova,
koma amakondwera ndi pemphero la anthu owona mtima.
9Ntchito za anthu oyipa zimamunyansa Yehova
koma amakonda amene amafunafuna chilungamo.
10Amene amasiya njira yabwino adzalangidwa koopsa.
Odana ndi chidzudzulo adzafa.
11Manda ndi chiwonongeko ndi zosabisika pamaso pa Yehova,
nanji mitima ya anthu!
12Wonyoza sakonda kudzudzulidwa;
iye sapita kwa anthu anzeru.
13Mtima wokondwa umachititsa nkhope kukhala yachimwemwe,
koma mtima wosweka umawawitsa moyo.
14Mtima wa munthu wozindikira zinthu umafunafuna nzeru,
koma pakamwa pa zitsiru pamadya uchitsiru wawo.
15Munthu woponderezedwa masiku ake onse amakhala oyipa,
koma mtima wachimwemwe umakhala pa chisangalalo nthawi zonse.
16Kuli bwino kukhala ndi zinthu pangʼono nʼkumaopa Yehova,
kusiyana ndi kukhala ndi chuma chambiri uli pamavuto.
17Kuli bwino kudyera ndiwo zamasamba pamene pali chikondi,
kusiyana ndi kudyera nyama yangʼombe yonenepa pamene pali udani.
18Munthu wopsa mtima msanga amayambitsa mikangano,
koma munthu woleza mtima amathetsa ndewu.
19Njira ya munthu waulesi ndi yowirira ndi mtengo waminga,
koma njira ya munthu wolungama ili ngati msewu waukulu.
20Mwana wanzeru amakondweretsa abambo ake,
koma mwana wopusa amanyoza amayi ake.
21Uchitsiru umakondweretsa munthu wopanda nzeru,
koma munthu womvetsa zinthu amayenda mowongoka.
22Popanda uphungu zolinga zako munthu zimalephereka,
koma pakakhala aphungu ambiri zolinga zimatheka.
23Munthu amakondwera ndi kuyankha koyenera,
ndipo mawu onena pa nthawi yake ndi okoma.
24Munthu wanzeru amatsata njira yopita ku moyo
kuti apewe malo okhala anthu akufa.
25Yehova amapasula nyumba ya munthu wonyada
koma amasamalira malo a mkazi wamasiye.
26Maganizo a anthu oyipa amamunyansa Yehova,
koma mawu a anthu oyera mtima amamusangalatsa.
27Munthu wofuna phindu mwachinyengo amavutitsa banja lake,
koma wodana ndi ziphuphu adzakhala ndi moyo.
28Munthu wolungama amaganizira za mmene ayankhire,
koma pakamwa pa munthu woyipa pamatulutsa mawu oyipa.
29Yehova amakhala kutali ndi anthu oyipa,
koma amamva pemphero la anthu olungama.
30Kuwala kwa maso kumasangalatsa mtima
ndipo uthenga wabwino umalimbitsa munthu.
31Womvera mawu a chidzudzulo amene apatsa moyo
adzakhala pakati pa anthu anzeru.
32Amene amanyoza mwambo amadzinyoza yekha,
koma womvera mawu a chidzudzulo amapeza nzeru zomvetsa zinthu.
33Kuopa Yehova kumaphunzitsa munthu nzeru,
ndipo kudzichepetsa ndi ulemu chili patsogolo ndi kudzichepetsa.
