Zvirevo 23
1 Kana ukagara pakudya pamwe chete nomubati, nyatsocherechedza zviri pamberi pako,
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 uise banga pahuro kana uri munhu wamadyo.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Usapanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka nokuti zvokudya izvozvo zvinonyengera.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Usazvionza nokuda kuwana pfuma; iva nouchenjeri hunoita kuti uzvibate.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Kungoti tarisei papfuma, wanei yaenda, nokuti zvirokwazvo inomera mapapiro igobhururuka ichienda kudenga segondo.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 Usadya zvokudya zvomunhu anonyima, kana kupanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka;
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 nokuti munhu uya anongofunga chete mutengo wazvo. Anoti kwauri, “Idya ugonwa,” asi mumwoyo make asingadi.
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Ucharutsa zvishoma izvozvo zvawadya, uye unenge watambisa mashoko ako nokumutenda.
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Usataura nebenzi, nokuti richashora uchenjeri hwamashoko ako.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Usabvisa dombo romuganhu wakare kana kupinda paminda yenherera,
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 nokuti Mudziviriri wavo ane simba; iye achavarwira pamhaka yavo newe.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12 Isa mwoyo wako kumurayiro nenzeve dzako kumashoko ezivo.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Usarega kuranga mwana; ukamuranga neshamhu, haafi.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanakomana wangu, kana mwoyo wako wakachenjera, ipapo mwoyo wangu uchafara;
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 mukatikati mangu muchapembera kana miromo yako ichitaura zvakarurama.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Usarega mwoyo wako uchichiva vatadzi, asi nguva dzose shingairira kutya Jehovha.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Zvirokwazvo ramangwana rako rine tariro, uye tariro yako haingaparadzwi.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, ugova nouchenjeri, uye uchengete mwoyo wako panzira yakarurama.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 Usabatana navaya vanonwa waini zhinji, kunyange vaya vanokara nyama,
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 nokuti zvidhakwa nevane madyo vachava varombo, uye hope dzichavapfekedza mamvemve.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 Teerera kuna baba vako, ivo vakakubereka, uye usazvidza mai vako kana vachinge vakwegura.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Tenga zvokwadi urege kuzoitengesa; uwane uchenjeri, kuzvibata nokunzwisisa.
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 Baba vomunhu akarurama vane mufaro mukuru; uyo ane mwanakomana akachenjera anofadzwa naye.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Baba vako namai vako ngavafare; mai vakakubereka ngavafare kwazvo!
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 Mwanakomana wangu, ndipe mwoyo wako uye meso ako ngaananʼanidze nzira dzangu,
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 nokuti chifeve igomba rakadzika, uye mukadzi asingazvibati itsime rakamanikana.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Segororo anohwandira, anowedzera vasina kutendeka pakati pavarume.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29 Ndiani ane nhamo? Ndiani akasuwa? Ndiani anokakavara? Ndiani anonyunyuta? Ndiani ane mavanga pasina mhaka? Ndiani ane meso akatsvuka?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Vaya vanogara pawaini, vanoenda kundoravira makate ewaini yakavhenganiswa.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Usatarisa waini kana yatsvuka, kana ichivaima iri mumukombe, kana ichidzika zvakanaka pakunwa!
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Pakupedzisira inoruma senyoka uye ine uturu semvumbi.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Meso ako achaona zvisakamboonekwa uye pfungwa dzako dzichafunga zvakapesana.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Uchava souya akarara pamusoro pamafungu amakungwa, kana somunhu avete pamusoro pedanda rechikepe.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Uchati, “Vakandirova, asi handina kukuvara! Vakandirova asi handina kuzvinzwa! Ndichamuka rinhiko kuti ndigotsvakazve waini?”
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
