Miyambo 20
1 Vinyo amachititsa munthu kukhala wonyoza ndipo chakumwa choledzeretsa chimachititsa munthu kukhala wolongolola; aliyense wosochera nazo zimenezi alibe nzeru.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Ukali wa mfumu uli ngati kubangula kwa mkango; amene amawuputa mkwiyowo amataya moyo wake.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Nʼchaulemu kwa munthu kupewa mikangano, koma chitsiru chilichonse chimafulumira kulongolola.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Munthu waulesi satipula mʼmunda pa nthawi yoyenera; kotero pa nthawi yokolola adzafunafuna zinthu koma sadzapeza kanthu kalikonse.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Zolinga za mtima wa munthu zili ngati madzi akuya, munthu womvetsa zinthu ndiye yekha angawatunge.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Anthu ambiri amayankhula za kukhulupirika kwawo, koma munthu wokhulupirika angamupeze ndani?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Munthu wolungama amakhala ndi makhalidwe abwino; odala ndi ana ake amene amatsanzira moyo wake.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Mfumu ikhala pa mpando wake wa chiweruzo, imapeta ndi maso ake anthu onse oyipa.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Ndani amene anganene kuti, “Ndawuyeretsa mtima wanga; ndilibe tchimo lililonse?”
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Masikelo ndi miyeso ya zinthu imene ili yachinyengo zonsezi Yehova zimamunyansa.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Ngakhale mwana amadziwika ndi zochita zake, ngati zochita zake zili zoyera ndi zoyenera.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Makutu amene amamva ndi maso amene amaona, zonsezi anazilenga ndi Yehova.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Usakonde tulo ungasauke; khala maso ndipo udzakhala ndi chakudya chambiri.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Munthu wogula chinthu amati, “Sichabwino, sichabwino.” Koma akagula nʼkuchokapo amayamba kudzitama.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Pali golide ndi miyala yamtengowapatali, koma milomo yoyankhula zanzeru ndi yamtengowapatali koposa zonsezi.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Utenge chovala cha munthu amene waperekera mlendo chikole; kuti chikhale chikole chako chifukwa waperekera chikole munthu wachilendo.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Chakudya chochipeza mwachinyengo chimukomera munthu, koma pa mapeto pake chimasanduka ngati mchenga mʼkamwa mwake.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Zokonzekera zimapindula utafunsira uphungu; ndipo usanamenye nkhondo yamba wapempha malangizo oyenera.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Amene amanka nanena miseche amawulula zachinsinsi. Choncho usamagwirizane naye munthu woyankhula zopusayo.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Ngati munthu atemberera abambo ake kapena amayi ake, moyo wake udzazimitsidwa ngati nyale mu mdima wandiweyani.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Cholowa chochipeza mofulumira poyamba, sichidzakhala dalitso pa mapeto pake.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Usanene kuti, “Ine ndidzabwezera choyipa chimenechi!” Dikira Yehova, ndipo Iye adzakupulumutsa.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Miyeso yosintha imamunyansa Yehova; ndipo masikelo onyenga si abwino.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Mayendedwe a munthu amawalamulira ndi Yehova, tsono munthu angadziwe bwanji njira yake?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Ndi msampha kwa munthu kuyankhula mofulumira kuti “Chinthu ichi nʼchopatulika kwa Yehova,” popeza mwina atha kusintha maganizo utalumbira kale.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Mfumu ya nzeru imapeta kwathunthu anthu oyipa.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Mpweya wa munthu uli ngati nyale ya Yehova; imafufuza ziwalo zake zonse zamʼkati.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Kukoma mtima ndi kukhulupirika ndizo zimasunga mfumu; chilungamo chimalimbikitsa mpando wake waufumu.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Ulemerero wa achinyamata uli mu mphamvu zawo, imvi ndi ulemerero wa anthu okalamba.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Mikwingwirima yopweteka ndiyo imachotsa zoyipa, ndipo mikwapulo ndiyo imachotsa zamʼkatikati mwa munthu.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
