Miyambo 26
1 Ngati chisanu choti mbee nthawi yachilimwe kapena mvula nthawi yokolola, ndi momwe zilili ndi ulemu wowulandira chitsiru.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Ngati timba wokhalira kuwuluka kapena namzeze wokhalira kuzungulirazungulira, ndi mmenenso limachitira temberero lopanda chifukwa, silichitika.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Mkwapulo ndi wokwapulira kavalo, chitsulo ndi cha mʼkamwa mwa bulu, choncho ndodo ndi yoyenera ku msana wa chitsiru.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Usayankhe chitsiru monga mwa uchitsiru wake, kuopa kuti ungadzakhale ngati chitsirucho.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Koma nthawi zina umuyankhe monga mwa uchitsiru wake, kuopa kuti angamadziyese yekha wanzeru.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Kutuma chitsiru kuti akapereke uthenga kuli ngati kudzidula mapazi ndipo kumakuyitanira mavuto.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Monga miyendo ya munthu wolumala imene ilibe mphamvu ndi mmene ulili mwambi mʼkamwa mwa chitsiru.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Kupereka ulemu kwa chitsiru zili ngati kukulunga mwala mʼlegeni.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Monga umachitira mtengo waminga wobaya mʼdzanja la chidakwa ndi mmene ulili mwambi mʼkamwa mwa chitsiru.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Munthu amene amalemba ntchito chitsiru chongoyendayenda, ali ngati woponya mivi amene angolasa anthu chilaselase.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Chitsiru chimene chimabwerezabwereza uchitsiru wake chili ngati galu amene amabwerera ku masanzi ake.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Munthu wa uchitsiru aliko bwino popeza pali chiyembekezo kuposana ndi munthu amene amadziyesa yekha kuti ndi wanzeru.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Munthu waulesi amati, “Mu msewu muli mkango, mkango woopsa ukuyendayenda mʼmisewu!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Monga chitseko chimapita uku ndi uku pa zolumikizira zake, momwemonso munthu waulesi amangotembenukatembenuka pa bedi lake.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Munthu waulesi akapisa dzanja lake mu mʼbale; zimamutopetsa kuti alifikitse pakamwa pake.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Munthu waulesi amadziyesa yekha wanzeru kuposa anthu asanu ndi awiri amene amayankha mochenjera.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Munthu wongolowera mikangano imene si yake ali ngati munthu wogwira makutu a galu wongodziyendera.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Monga munthu wamisala amene akuponya sakali zamoto kapena mivi yoopsa,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 ndi momwe alili munthu wonamiza mnzake, amene amati, “Ndimangoseka chabe!”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Pakasowa nkhuni, moto umazima; chomwechonso pakasowa anthu amiseche mkangano umatha.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Monga alili makala pa moto wonyeka kapena mmene zimachitira nkhuni pa moto, ndi mmene alili munthu wolongolola poyambitsa mikangano.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Mawu a munthu wamiseche ali ngati chakudya chokoma; chimene chimatsikira mʼmimba mwa munthu.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Monga mmene chiziro chimakutira chiwiya chadothi ndi mmene mawu oshashalika amabisira mtima woyipa.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Munthu wachidani amayankhula zabwino pamene mu mtima mwake muli chinyengo.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Ngakhale wotereyu mawu ake ali okoma, koma usamukhulupirire, pakuti mu mtima mwake mwadzaza zonyansa.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ngakhale amabisa chidani mochenjera, koma kuyipa kwakeko kudzaonekera poyera pa gulu la anthu.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Ngati munthu akumba dzenje, adzagweramo yekha; ngati munthu agubuduza mwala, udzamupsinja iye mwini.
He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Munthu wonama amadana ndi amene anawapweteka, ndipo pakamwa poshashalika pamabweretsa chiwonongeko.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
