Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Nʼkwabwino kudya mkute koma pali mtendere, kuposa kuchita madyerero mʼnyumba mʼmene muli mikangano.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
Kapolo wanzeru adzalamulira mwana wochititsa manyazi, ndipo kapoloyo adzagawana nawo cholowa ngati mmodzi mwa abale.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
Siliva amamuyesa mʼngʼanjo ndipo golide amamuyesa mʼngʼanjo, koma Yehova amayesa mitima.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
Munthu woyipa amamvera malangizo oyipa; munthu wabodza amatchera khutu mawu osakaza.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Iye amene amalalatira mʼmphawi amanyoza mlengi wake; amene amakondwerera tsoka la mnzake sadzakhala osalangidwa.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Zidzukulu ndiye ulemu wa anthu okalamba, ndipo makolo ndiye ulemerero wa ana.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Kuyankhula bwino sikuyenerana ndi chitsiru, nanji kuyankhula bodza kungayenerane kodi ndi mfumu?
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Chiphuphu chili ngati mankhwala amwayi kwa wochiperekayo; kulikonse kumene amapita zinthu zimamuyendera.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Iye amene amakhululukira zolakwa za wina, amafunitsitsa chikondi; wobwerezabwereza nkhani amapha chibwenzi.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
Munthu wanzeru amamva kamodzi kokha, munthu wopanda nzeru ndi samvamkunkhu.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Munthu woyipa maganizo ake ali pa kuwukira basi; ndipo bwana adzamutumizira wamthenga wankhanza.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Nʼkwabwino kukumana ndi chimbalangondo cholandidwa ana ake kusiyana ndi kukumana ndi chitsiru mu uchitsiru wake.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Ngati munthu abwezera choyipa kusinthana ndi zabwino, ndiye choyipa sichidzachoka mʼnyumba mwake.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
Chiyambi cha mikangano chili ngati kukhamulira madzi, choncho uzichokapo mkangano usanayambe.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
Kumasula munthu wolakwa kapena kumanga munthu wosalakwa, zonse ziwirizi Yehova zimamunyansa.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Ndalama zogulira nzeru zili ndi phindu lanji mʼmanja mwa chitsiru poti iyeyo mutu wake sumayenda bwino?
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
Bwenzi lako limakukonda nthawi zonse, ndipo mʼbale wako anabadwa kuti azikuthandiza pamavuto.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
Munthu wopanda nzeru amavomereza zopereka chikole ndipo iyeyo amasanduka chikole cha mnansi wake.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
Wokonda zolakwa amakonda mkangano, ndipo wokonda kuyankhula zonyada amadziyitanira chiwonongeko.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
Munthu wamtima woyipa zinthu sizimuyendera bwino; ndipo woyankhula zachinyengo amagwa mʼmavuto.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
Mwana wopusa amamvetsa chisoni abambo ake, abambo a chitsiru sakhala ndi chimwemwe.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
Mtima wosangalala uli ngati mankhwala abwino, koma mtima wokhumudwa umafowoketsa mafupa.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Munthu woyipa amalandira chiphuphu chamseri kuti apotoze chiweruzo cholungama.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
Munthu wozindikira zinthu, maso ake amakhala pa nzeru, koma chitsiru chimwazamwaza maso ake pa dziko lonse lapansi.
25 A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Mwana wopusa amamvetsa chisoni abambo ake ndipo amapweteketsa mtima amayi ake.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Sibwino kulipitsa munthu wosalakwa, kapena kulanga anthu osalakwa.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Munthu wosunga pakamwa ndiye wodziwa zinthu, ndipo wodekha mtima ndiye womvetsa bwino zinthu.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Ngakhale chitsiru chimakhala ngati chanzeru chikakhala chete; ndipo chikatseka pakamwa chimakhala ngati munthu wochenjera.
