Zvirevo 18
1 Munhu asina ukama navamwe anongozvitsvakira zvake; anozvidza kutonga kwakanaka kwose.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 Benzi harifariri kunzwisisa, asi rinofarira kungotaura zvarinofunga chete.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 Panosvika chakaipa, kuzvidzwa kunouyawo, uye kana nyadzi dzichisvika kusakudzwa kwasvikawo.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Mashoko omuromo womunhu imvura yakadzika, asi tsime rouchenjeri chitubu chinoyerera.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 Hazvina kunaka kutsaura akaipa kana kusaruramisira asina mhosva.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Miromo yebenzi inoriunzira kukakavara, uye muromo wake unomukokera kurohwa.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 Muromo webenzi ndiwo kuparadzwa kwaro, uye miromo yaro ndiwo musungo kumweya waro.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 Mashoko amakuhwa akaita semisuva yakanakisisa; anoenda pakadzikadzika mukati momunhu.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 Uyo ano usimbe pakubata kwake ihama youyo anoparadza.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 Zita raJehovha inhare yakasimba; vakarurama vanomhanyira kwariri vagochengetedzwa.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 Pfuma yavapfumi ndiro guta ravo rina masvingo; vanoriona sorusvingo rurefu pakufunga kwavo.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Kuparadzwa kusati kwasvika, mwoyo womunhu unozvikudza, asi kuzvininipisa kunotangira kukudzwa.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 Uyo anopindura asati anzwa, ndihwo upenzi hwake nokunyadziswa kwake.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 Mweya womunhu unomusimbisa panguva yokurwara, asi mweya wakapwanyika ndiani angautakura?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 Mwoyo woune njere unowana ruzivo, nzeve dzowakachenjera dzinorutsvaka.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 Chipo chinozarurira nzira kune achipa, uye chinomusvitsa pamberi pavakuru.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 Anotanga kusvitsa nyaya yake anoita seakanaka, kusvikira mumwe auya mberi kuzomubvunza.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Kukanda mijenya kunopedza gakava, uye kunotonga pakati pavaviri vanopikisana zvikuru.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 Hama yatadzirwa yakavangarara kupfuura guta rakakomberedzwa namasvingo, uye kukakavara kwakafanana namazariro amasuo omuzinda wamambo.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 Kubva pazvibereko zvomuromo wake dumbu romunhu rinogutiswa; nezvinobva pamiromo yake achagutiswa.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Rurimi rune simba roupenyu norufu, uye vaya vanoruda vachadya chibereko charwo.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Uyo anowana mudzimai anowana chinhu chakanaka, uye anogamuchira nyasha kubva kuna Jehovha.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 Murombo anokumbira kuitirwa tsitsi, asi mupfumi anopindura nehasha.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 Munhu ane shamwari dzakawanda angangoparadzwa, asi kune shamwari inonamatira kupfuura hama.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
