Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Teererai, vanakomana vangu, kurayira kwababa venyu; nyatsoteererai mugowana kunzwisisa.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
Ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka, saka regai kurasa dzidziso yangu.
3 For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
Pandakanga ndiri mukomana mumba mababa vangu, ndichiri muduku uye mwana mumwe chete wamai vangu,
4 who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
baba vangu vakandidzidzisa vachiti, “Mwoyo wako ngaubatisise mashoko angu; chengeta mirayiro yangu ugorarama.
5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Wana uchenjeri, wana kunzwisisa; usakanganwa mashoko angu kana kubva paari.
6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
Usarasa uchenjeri, ipapo huchakuchengeta; hude, ihwo hugokurinda.
Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru; naizvozvo wana uchenjeri. Kunyange huchikutorera zvose zvaunazvo, wana kunzwisisa.
8 Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
Uhukudze; ipapo huchakusimudzira; uhumbundikire, ipapo huchakukudza.
9 that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
Huchakupfekedza chishongo chenyasha mumusoro mako, uye huchakupa korona yokubwinya.”
10 Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, gamuchira zvandinotaura, ipapo makore oupenyu hwako achava mazhinji.
11 For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
Ndinokudzidzisa nzira youchenjeri uye ndiri kukutungamirira panzira dzakarurama.
12 For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
Paunofamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi, paunomhanya, haungagumburwi.
13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
Batisisa kurayirwa, usarega kuchienda; nyatsokurinda zvakanaka, nokuti ndihwo upenyu hwako.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
Usaisa rutsoka panzira dzavakaipa, kana kufamba panzira dzavanhu vakaipa.
15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
Udzinzvenge, usafamba padziri; tsauka padziri ugopfuurira mberi.
16 For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
Nokuti havangavati vasati vaita zvakaipa; havangabatwi nehope kusvikira vaita kuti mumwe munhu aputsike.
17 For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
Vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, uye vanonwa waini yezvechisimba.
18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
Nzira yavakarurama yakafanana nechiedza chamambakwedza, chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pachiedza chamasikati makuru.
19 But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
Asi nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima guru; havazivi zvinoita kuti vagumburwe.
20 [My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
Mwanakomana wangu, nyatsoteerera zvandinotaura; teereresa kumashoko angu.
21 that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
Usaite kuti abve pameso ako, achengete pakati pomwoyo wako;
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
nokuti upenyu kuna avo vanoawana uye noutano kumuviri wose womunhu.
23 Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
Pamusoro pazvo zvose, chengetedza mwoyo wako, nokuti ndicho chitubu choupenyu.
24 Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
Bvisa zvinotsausa pamuromo wako; kutaura kwakaora ngakuve kure nemiromo yako.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
Meso ako ngaatarire mberi bedzi, ramba wakatarira mberi kwako.
26 Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara ugofamba munzira dzakasimba chete.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; chengetedza rutsoka rwako kuti rusaende pane zvakaipa.
