Miyambo 4
1 Ananu, mverani malangizo a abambo anu; tcherani khutu kuti mupeze nzeru zodziwira zinthu.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Zimene ndikukuphunzitsani ndi zabwino. Choncho musasiye malangizo anga.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Paja ndinalinso mwana mʼnyumba mwa abambo anga; mwana mmodzi yekha wapamtima pa amayi anga.
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 Ndipo abambo anandiphunzitsa ndi mawu akuti, “Ugwiritse mawu anga pa mtima pako, usunge malamulo anga kuti ukhale ndi moyo.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Upeze nzeru, upeze nzeru zomvetsa zinthu; usayiwale mawu anga kapena kutayana nawo.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Usasiye nzeru ndipo idzakusunga. Uziyikonda ndipo idzakuteteza.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Fundo yayikulu pa za nzeru ndi iyi: upeze nzeru. Kaya pali china chilichonse chimene ungapeze, koma upeze nzeru yomvetsa bwino zinthu.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Uyilemekeze nzeruyo ndipo idzakukweza; ikumbatire nzeruyo ndipo idzakupatsa ulemu.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Idzayika sangamutu yokongola yamaluwa pamutu pako; idzakupatsa chipewa chaufumu chaulemu.”
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Mwana wanga, umvere ndi kuvomereza zimene ndikunena, ndipo zaka za moyo wako zidzakhala zochuluka.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Ndakuphunzitsa njira yake ya nzeru. Ndakutsogolera mʼnjira zolungama.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Pamene ukuyenda, mapazi ako sadzawombana; ukamadzathamanga, sudzapunthwa.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Ugwiritse zimene ndikukuphunzitsazi osazitaya ayi. Uwasamale bwino pakuti moyo wako wagona pamenepa.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Usayende mʼnjira za anthu oyipa kapena kuyenda mʼnjira ya anthu ochimwa.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Pewa njira zawo, usayende mʼmenemo; uzilambalala nʼkumangopita.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Pakuti iwo sagona mpaka atachita zoyipa; tulo salipeza mpaka atapunthwitsa munthu wina.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Paja chakudya chawo ndicho kuchita zoyipa basi ndipo chakumwa chawo ndi chiwawa.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Koma njira ya anthu olungama ili ngati kuwala kwa mʼbandakucha kumene kumanka kuwalirawalira mpaka dzuwa litafika pa mutu.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 Koma njira ya anthu oyipa ili ngati mdima wandiweyani; iwo sadziwa chomwe chimawapunthwitsa.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Mwana wanga, mvetsetsa zimene ndikunena; tchera khutu ku mawu anga.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Usayiwale malangizo angawa, koma uwasunge mu mtima mwako.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Pakuti amapatsa moyo kwa aliyense amene awapeza ndipo amachiritsa thupi lake lonse.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Ndipotu mtima wako uziwuyangʼanira bwino ndithu pakuti ndiwo magwero a moyo.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Usiyiretu kuyankhula zokhotakhota; ndipo ulekeretu kuyankhula zinthu zonyansa.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Maso ako ayangʼane patsogolo; uziyangʼana kutsogolo molunjika.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Uzilingalira bwino kumene kupita mapazi ako ndipo njira zako zonse zidzakhala zosakayikitsa.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Usapatukire kumanja kapena kumanzere; usapite kumene kuli zoyipa.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
