Miyambo 18
1 Munthu wokonda kukhala yekha amafunafuna zomukomera yekha; iye amatsutsana ndi malangizo onse anzeru.
Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
2 Chitsiru chilibe chidwi chomvetsa zinthu, koma chimakondwera ndi kuyankhula maganizo ake okha.
The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
3 Kuyipa mtima kukabwera, manyozonso amabwera. Manyazi amabwera pamodzi ndi kunyozeka.
The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
4 Mawu a munthu ali ngati madzi akuya, kasupe wa nzeru ndiye mtsinje wotumphuka.
Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
5 Si kwabwino kukondera munthu woyipa pa milandu; kapena kupondereza munthu wosalakwa.
It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
6 Mawu a chitsiru amautsa mkangano; pakamwa pake pamayitana mkwapulo.
The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
7 Pakamwa pa chitsiru ndipo pamabweretsa chiwonongeko chake, ndipo milomo yake ili ngati msampha wa moyo wake.
The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Mawu a miseche ali ngati chakudya chokoma; amalowa mʼmimba mwa munthu.
The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
9 Munthu waulesi pa ntchito yake ali pachibale ndi munthu amene amawononga zinthu.
Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
10 Dzina la Yehova lili ngati nsanja yolimba; wolungama amathawiramo napulumuka.
The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
11 Chuma cha anthu olemera chili ngati mzinda wake wolimba; chili ngati khoma lalitali limene amaganiza kuti limutchinjiriza.
The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
12 Chiwonongeko chisanafike, mtima wa munthu umakhala wonyada, koma ulemu umatsatira kudzichepetsa.
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
13 Ukayankha usanamvetse bwino nkhani, umenewo ndi uchitsiru ndipo umachita manyazi.
Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
14 Mtima wa munthu utha kupirira pa matenda, koma munthu akataya mtima ndani angathe kumulimbitsanso.
The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
15 Munthu wanzeru amawonjezera nzeru zina; amafunafuna kudziwa bwino zinthu.
A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
16 Mphatso ya munthu imamutsekulira njira yomufikitsa pamaso pa anthu akuluakulu.
A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
17 Amene amayamba kufotokoza mlandu wake amaoneka ngati wolungama ndiye mpaka mnzake atabwera ndi kumufunsa bwino.
The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
18 Kuchita maere kumathetsa mikangano; amalekanitsa okangana amphamvu.
Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
19 Mʼbale amene wamuthandiza amakhala ngati mzinda wolimba, koma kukangana naye kumatsekereza thandizo.
A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Munthu amapeza bwino malingana ndi zoyankhula zake. Adzakhuta ndi zipatso za pakamwa pake.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
21 Mawu ako angathe kukuphetsa kapena kukukhalitsa moyo. Wokonda kuyankhulayankhula adzadya zipatso zake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
22 Wapeza mkazi wapeza chinthu chabwino ndipo Yehova amamukomera mtima.
He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
23 Munthu wosauka amapempha koma munthu wolemera amayankha mwaukali.
The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
24 Pali abwenzi amene chibwenzi chawo nʼchapamaso, koma pali bwenzi limene limakukangamira kuposa mʼbale wako.
A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.
