Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Ananu, mverani malangizo a abambo anu; tcherani khutu kuti mupeze nzeru zodziwira zinthu.
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
Zimene ndikukuphunzitsani ndi zabwino. Choncho musasiye malangizo anga.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
Paja ndinalinso mwana mʼnyumba mwa abambo anga; mwana mmodzi yekha wapamtima pa amayi anga.
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
Ndipo abambo anandiphunzitsa ndi mawu akuti, “Ugwiritse mawu anga pa mtima pako, usunge malamulo anga kuti ukhale ndi moyo.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Upeze nzeru, upeze nzeru zomvetsa zinthu; usayiwale mawu anga kapena kutayana nawo.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Usasiye nzeru ndipo idzakusunga. Uziyikonda ndipo idzakuteteza.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Fundo yayikulu pa za nzeru ndi iyi: upeze nzeru. Kaya pali china chilichonse chimene ungapeze, koma upeze nzeru yomvetsa bwino zinthu.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Uyilemekeze nzeruyo ndipo idzakukweza; ikumbatire nzeruyo ndipo idzakupatsa ulemu.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Idzayika sangamutu yokongola yamaluwa pamutu pako; idzakupatsa chipewa chaufumu chaulemu.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Mwana wanga, umvere ndi kuvomereza zimene ndikunena, ndipo zaka za moyo wako zidzakhala zochuluka.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
Ndakuphunzitsa njira yake ya nzeru. Ndakutsogolera mʼnjira zolungama.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Pamene ukuyenda, mapazi ako sadzawombana; ukamadzathamanga, sudzapunthwa.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Ugwiritse zimene ndikukuphunzitsazi osazitaya ayi. Uwasamale bwino pakuti moyo wako wagona pamenepa.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Usayende mʼnjira za anthu oyipa kapena kuyenda mʼnjira ya anthu ochimwa.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Pewa njira zawo, usayende mʼmenemo; uzilambalala nʼkumangopita.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Pakuti iwo sagona mpaka atachita zoyipa; tulo salipeza mpaka atapunthwitsa munthu wina.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Paja chakudya chawo ndicho kuchita zoyipa basi ndipo chakumwa chawo ndi chiwawa.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Koma njira ya anthu olungama ili ngati kuwala kwa mʼbandakucha kumene kumanka kuwalirawalira mpaka dzuwa litafika pa mutu.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Koma njira ya anthu oyipa ili ngati mdima wandiweyani; iwo sadziwa chomwe chimawapunthwitsa.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Mwana wanga, mvetsetsa zimene ndikunena; tchera khutu ku mawu anga.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Usayiwale malangizo angawa, koma uwasunge mu mtima mwako.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
Pakuti amapatsa moyo kwa aliyense amene awapeza ndipo amachiritsa thupi lake lonse.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Ndipotu mtima wako uziwuyangʼanira bwino ndithu pakuti ndiwo magwero a moyo.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Usiyiretu kuyankhula zokhotakhota; ndipo ulekeretu kuyankhula zinthu zonyansa.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Maso ako ayangʼane patsogolo; uziyangʼana kutsogolo molunjika.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Uzilingalira bwino kumene kupita mapazi ako ndipo njira zako zonse zidzakhala zosakayikitsa.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Usapatukire kumanja kapena kumanzere; usapite kumene kuli zoyipa.
