Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
Ananu, mverani malangizo a abambo anu; tcherani khutu kuti mupeze nzeru zodziwira zinthu.
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
Zimene ndikukuphunzitsani ndi zabwino. Choncho musasiye malangizo anga.
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
Paja ndinalinso mwana mʼnyumba mwa abambo anga; mwana mmodzi yekha wapamtima pa amayi anga.
4 he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you 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, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
Upeze nzeru, upeze nzeru zomvetsa zinthu; usayiwale mawu anga kapena kutayana nawo.
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
Usasiye nzeru ndipo idzakusunga. Uziyikonda ndipo idzakuteteza.
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
Fundo yayikulu pa za nzeru ndi iyi: upeze nzeru. Kaya pali china chilichonse chimene ungapeze, koma upeze nzeru yomvetsa bwino zinthu.
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Uyilemekeze nzeruyo ndipo idzakukweza; ikumbatire nzeruyo ndipo idzakupatsa ulemu.
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
Idzayika sangamutu yokongola yamaluwa pamutu pako; idzakupatsa chipewa chaufumu chaulemu.”
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
Mwana wanga, umvere ndi kuvomereza zimene ndikunena, ndipo zaka za moyo wako zidzakhala zochuluka.
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
Ndakuphunzitsa njira yake ya nzeru. Ndakutsogolera mʼnjira zolungama.
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
Pamene ukuyenda, mapazi ako sadzawombana; ukamadzathamanga, sudzapunthwa.
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
Ugwiritse zimene ndikukuphunzitsazi osazitaya ayi. Uwasamale bwino pakuti moyo wako wagona pamenepa.
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
Usayende mʼnjira za anthu oyipa kapena kuyenda mʼnjira ya anthu ochimwa.
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
Pewa njira zawo, usayende mʼmenemo; uzilambalala nʼkumangopita.
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
Koma njira ya anthu olungama ili ngati kuwala kwa mʼbandakucha kumene kumanka kuwalirawalira mpaka dzuwa litafika pa mutu.
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
Koma njira ya anthu oyipa ili ngati mdima wandiweyani; iwo sadziwa chomwe chimawapunthwitsa.
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
Mwana wanga, mvetsetsa zimene ndikunena; tchera khutu ku mawu anga.
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Usayiwale malangizo angawa, koma uwasunge mu mtima mwako.
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
Pakuti amapatsa moyo kwa aliyense amene awapeza ndipo amachiritsa thupi lake lonse.
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
Ndipotu mtima wako uziwuyangʼanira bwino ndithu pakuti ndiwo magwero a moyo.
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
Usiyiretu kuyankhula zokhotakhota; ndipo ulekeretu kuyankhula zinthu zonyansa.
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
Maso ako ayangʼane patsogolo; uziyangʼana kutsogolo molunjika.
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
Uzilingalira bwino kumene kupita mapazi ako ndipo njira zako zonse zidzakhala zosakayikitsa.
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
Usapatukire kumanja kapena kumanzere; usapite kumene kuli zoyipa.
