Miyambo 18
1 Munthu wokonda kukhala yekha amafunafuna zomukomera yekha; iye amatsutsana ndi malangizo onse anzeru.
He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
2 Chitsiru chilibe chidwi chomvetsa zinthu, koma chimakondwera ndi kuyankhula maganizo ake okha.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
3 Kuyipa mtima kukabwera, manyozonso amabwera. Manyazi amabwera pamodzi ndi kunyozeka.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
4 Mawu a munthu ali ngati madzi akuya, kasupe wa nzeru ndiye mtsinje wotumphuka.
Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
5 Si kwabwino kukondera munthu woyipa pa milandu; kapena kupondereza munthu wosalakwa.
It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
6 Mawu a chitsiru amautsa mkangano; pakamwa pake pamayitana mkwapulo.
The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
7 Pakamwa pa chitsiru ndipo pamabweretsa chiwonongeko chake, ndipo milomo yake ili ngati msampha wa moyo wake.
The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Mawu a miseche ali ngati chakudya chokoma; amalowa mʼmimba mwa munthu.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
9 Munthu waulesi pa ntchito yake ali pachibale ndi munthu amene amawononga zinthu.
He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
10 Dzina la Yehova lili ngati nsanja yolimba; wolungama amathawiramo napulumuka.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
11 Chuma cha anthu olemera chili ngati mzinda wake wolimba; chili ngati khoma lalitali limene amaganiza kuti limutchinjiriza.
The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
12 Chiwonongeko chisanafike, mtima wa munthu umakhala wonyada, koma ulemu umatsatira kudzichepetsa.
Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
13 Ukayankha usanamvetse bwino nkhani, umenewo ndi uchitsiru ndipo umachita manyazi.
When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
14 Mtima wa munthu utha kupirira pa matenda, koma munthu akataya mtima ndani angathe kumulimbitsanso.
The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
15 Munthu wanzeru amawonjezera nzeru zina; amafunafuna kudziwa bwino zinthu.
The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Mphatso ya munthu imamutsekulira njira yomufikitsa pamaso pa anthu akuluakulu.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
17 Amene amayamba kufotokoza mlandu wake amaoneka ngati wolungama ndiye mpaka mnzake atabwera ndi kumufunsa bwino.
He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
18 Kuchita maere kumathetsa mikangano; amalekanitsa okangana amphamvu.
The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
19 Mʼbale amene wamuthandiza amakhala ngati mzinda wolimba, koma kukangana naye kumatsekereza thandizo.
A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
20 Munthu amapeza bwino malingana ndi zoyankhula zake. Adzakhuta ndi zipatso za pakamwa pake.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
21 Mawu ako angathe kukuphetsa kapena kukukhalitsa moyo. Wokonda kuyankhulayankhula adzadya zipatso zake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
22 Wapeza mkazi wapeza chinthu chabwino ndipo Yehova amamukomera mtima.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
23 Munthu wosauka amapempha koma munthu wolemera amayankha mwaukali.
The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 Pali abwenzi amene chibwenzi chawo nʼchapamaso, koma pali bwenzi limene limakukangamira kuposa mʼbale wako.
A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
