Zvirevo 23
1 Kana ukagara pakudya pamwe chete nomubati, nyatsocherechedza zviri pamberi pako,
If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
2 uise banga pahuro kana uri munhu wamadyo.
and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
3 Usapanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka nokuti zvokudya izvozvo zvinonyengera.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Usazvionza nokuda kuwana pfuma; iva nouchenjeri hunoita kuti uzvibate.
If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
5 Kungoti tarisei papfuma, wanei yaenda, nokuti zvirokwazvo inomera mapapiro igobhururuka ichienda kudenga segondo.
If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Usadya zvokudya zvomunhu anonyima, kana kupanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka;
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
7 nokuti munhu uya anongofunga chete mutengo wazvo. Anoti kwauri, “Idya ugonwa,” asi mumwoyo make asingadi.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
8 Ucharutsa zvishoma izvozvo zvawadya, uye unenge watambisa mashoko ako nokumutenda.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
9 Usataura nebenzi, nokuti richashora uchenjeri hwamashoko ako.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
10 Usabvisa dombo romuganhu wakare kana kupinda paminda yenherera,
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 nokuti Mudziviriri wavo ane simba; iye achavarwira pamhaka yavo newe.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
12 Isa mwoyo wako kumurayiro nenzeve dzako kumashoko ezivo.
Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
13 Usarega kuranga mwana; ukamuranga neshamhu, haafi.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For you shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanakomana wangu, kana mwoyo wako wakachenjera, ipapo mwoyo wangu uchafara;
Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
16 mukatikati mangu muchapembera kana miromo yako ichitaura zvakarurama.
and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Usarega mwoyo wako uchichiva vatadzi, asi nguva dzose shingairira kutya Jehovha.
Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Zvirokwazvo ramangwana rako rine tariro, uye tariro yako haingaparadzwi.
For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
19 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, ugova nouchenjeri, uye uchengete mwoyo wako panzira yakarurama.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
20 Usabatana navaya vanonwa waini zhinji, kunyange vaya vanokara nyama,
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 nokuti zvidhakwa nevane madyo vachava varombo, uye hope dzichavapfekedza mamvemve.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Teerera kuna baba vako, ivo vakakubereka, uye usazvidza mai vako kana vachinge vakwegura.
Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
23 Tenga zvokwadi urege kuzoitengesa; uwane uchenjeri, kuzvibata nokunzwisisa.
24 Baba vomunhu akarurama vane mufaro mukuru; uyo ane mwanakomana akachenjera anofadzwa naye.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Baba vako namai vako ngavafare; mai vakakubereka ngavafare kwazvo!
Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
26 Mwanakomana wangu, ndipe mwoyo wako uye meso ako ngaananʼanidze nzira dzangu,
[My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 nokuti chifeve igomba rakadzika, uye mukadzi asingazvibati itsime rakamanikana.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Segororo anohwandira, anowedzera vasina kutendeka pakati pavarume.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
29 Ndiani ane nhamo? Ndiani akasuwa? Ndiani anokakavara? Ndiani anonyunyuta? Ndiani ane mavanga pasina mhaka? Ndiani ane meso akatsvuka?
Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Vaya vanogara pawaini, vanoenda kundoravira makate ewaini yakavhenganiswa.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Usatarisa waini kana yatsvuka, kana ichivaima iri mumukombe, kana ichidzika zvakanaka pakunwa!
For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 Pakupedzisira inoruma senyoka uye ine uturu semvumbi.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Meso ako achaona zvisakamboonekwa uye pfungwa dzako dzichafunga zvakapesana.
Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Uchava souya akarara pamusoro pamafungu amakungwa, kana somunhu avete pamusoro pedanda rechikepe.
And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Uchati, “Vakandirova, asi handina kukuvara! Vakandirova asi handina kuzvinzwa! Ndichamuka rinhiko kuti ndigotsvakazve waini?”
And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
