Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Ananu, mverani malangizo a abambo anu; tcherani khutu kuti mupeze nzeru zodziwira zinthu.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
Zimene ndikukuphunzitsani ndi zabwino. Choncho musasiye malangizo anga.
3 For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
Paja ndinalinso mwana mʼnyumba mwa abambo anga; mwana mmodzi yekha wapamtima pa amayi anga.
4 who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
Ndipo abambo anandiphunzitsa ndi mawu akuti, “Ugwiritse mawu anga pa mtima pako, usunge malamulo anga kuti ukhale ndi moyo.
5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Upeze nzeru, upeze nzeru zomvetsa zinthu; usayiwale mawu anga kapena kutayana nawo.
6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
Usasiye nzeru ndipo idzakusunga. Uziyikonda ndipo idzakuteteza.
Fundo yayikulu pa za nzeru ndi iyi: upeze nzeru. Kaya pali china chilichonse chimene ungapeze, koma upeze nzeru yomvetsa bwino zinthu.
8 Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honor it, that it may embrace you;
Uyilemekeze nzeruyo ndipo idzakukweza; ikumbatire nzeruyo ndipo idzakupatsa ulemu.
9 that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
Idzayika sangamutu yokongola yamaluwa pamutu pako; idzakupatsa chipewa chaufumu chaulemu.”
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.
Mwana wanga, umvere ndi kuvomereza zimene ndikunena, ndipo zaka za moyo wako zidzakhala zochuluka.
11 For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
Ndakuphunzitsa njira yake ya nzeru. Ndakutsogolera mʼnjira zolungama.
12 For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
Pamene ukuyenda, mapazi ako sadzawombana; ukamadzathamanga, sudzapunthwa.
13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
Ugwiritse zimene ndikukuphunzitsazi osazitaya ayi. Uwasamale bwino pakuti moyo wako wagona pamenepa.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
Usayende mʼnjira za anthu oyipa kapena kuyenda mʼnjira ya anthu ochimwa.
15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
Pewa njira zawo, usayende mʼmenemo; uzilambalala nʼkumangopita.
16 For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
Pakuti iwo sagona mpaka atachita zoyipa; tulo salipeza mpaka atapunthwitsa munthu wina.
17 For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
Paja chakudya chawo ndicho kuchita zoyipa basi ndipo chakumwa chawo ndi chiwawa.
18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
Koma njira ya anthu olungama ili ngati kuwala kwa mʼbandakucha kumene kumanka kuwalirawalira mpaka dzuwa litafika pa mutu.
19 But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
Koma njira ya anthu oyipa ili ngati mdima wandiweyani; iwo sadziwa chomwe chimawapunthwitsa.
20 [My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
Mwana wanga, mvetsetsa zimene ndikunena; tchera khutu ku mawu anga.
21 that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
Usayiwale malangizo angawa, koma uwasunge mu mtima mwako.
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
Pakuti amapatsa moyo kwa aliyense amene awapeza ndipo amachiritsa thupi lake lonse.
23 Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
Ndipotu mtima wako uziwuyangʼanira bwino ndithu pakuti ndiwo magwero a moyo.
24 Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
Usiyiretu kuyankhula zokhotakhota; ndipo ulekeretu kuyankhula zinthu zonyansa.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
Maso ako ayangʼane patsogolo; uziyangʼana kutsogolo molunjika.
26 Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
Uzilingalira bwino kumene kupita mapazi ako ndipo njira zako zonse zidzakhala zosakayikitsa.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
Usapatukire kumanja kapena kumanzere; usapite kumene kuli zoyipa.
