Zvirevo 23
1 Kana ukagara pakudya pamwe chete nomubati, nyatsocherechedza zviri pamberi pako,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 uise banga pahuro kana uri munhu wamadyo.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Usapanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka nokuti zvokudya izvozvo zvinonyengera.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Usazvionza nokuda kuwana pfuma; iva nouchenjeri hunoita kuti uzvibate.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Kungoti tarisei papfuma, wanei yaenda, nokuti zvirokwazvo inomera mapapiro igobhururuka ichienda kudenga segondo.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Usadya zvokudya zvomunhu anonyima, kana kupanga zvokudya zvake zvinonaka;
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 nokuti munhu uya anongofunga chete mutengo wazvo. Anoti kwauri, “Idya ugonwa,” asi mumwoyo make asingadi.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Ucharutsa zvishoma izvozvo zvawadya, uye unenge watambisa mashoko ako nokumutenda.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Usataura nebenzi, nokuti richashora uchenjeri hwamashoko ako.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Usabvisa dombo romuganhu wakare kana kupinda paminda yenherera,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 nokuti Mudziviriri wavo ane simba; iye achavarwira pamhaka yavo newe.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Isa mwoyo wako kumurayiro nenzeve dzako kumashoko ezivo.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Usarega kuranga mwana; ukamuranga neshamhu, haafi.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanakomana wangu, kana mwoyo wako wakachenjera, ipapo mwoyo wangu uchafara;
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 mukatikati mangu muchapembera kana miromo yako ichitaura zvakarurama.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Usarega mwoyo wako uchichiva vatadzi, asi nguva dzose shingairira kutya Jehovha.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Zvirokwazvo ramangwana rako rine tariro, uye tariro yako haingaparadzwi.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, ugova nouchenjeri, uye uchengete mwoyo wako panzira yakarurama.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Usabatana navaya vanonwa waini zhinji, kunyange vaya vanokara nyama,
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 nokuti zvidhakwa nevane madyo vachava varombo, uye hope dzichavapfekedza mamvemve.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Teerera kuna baba vako, ivo vakakubereka, uye usazvidza mai vako kana vachinge vakwegura.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Tenga zvokwadi urege kuzoitengesa; uwane uchenjeri, kuzvibata nokunzwisisa.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Baba vomunhu akarurama vane mufaro mukuru; uyo ane mwanakomana akachenjera anofadzwa naye.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Baba vako namai vako ngavafare; mai vakakubereka ngavafare kwazvo!
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Mwanakomana wangu, ndipe mwoyo wako uye meso ako ngaananʼanidze nzira dzangu,
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 nokuti chifeve igomba rakadzika, uye mukadzi asingazvibati itsime rakamanikana.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Segororo anohwandira, anowedzera vasina kutendeka pakati pavarume.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Ndiani ane nhamo? Ndiani akasuwa? Ndiani anokakavara? Ndiani anonyunyuta? Ndiani ane mavanga pasina mhaka? Ndiani ane meso akatsvuka?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Vaya vanogara pawaini, vanoenda kundoravira makate ewaini yakavhenganiswa.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Usatarisa waini kana yatsvuka, kana ichivaima iri mumukombe, kana ichidzika zvakanaka pakunwa!
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Pakupedzisira inoruma senyoka uye ine uturu semvumbi.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Meso ako achaona zvisakamboonekwa uye pfungwa dzako dzichafunga zvakapesana.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Uchava souya akarara pamusoro pamafungu amakungwa, kana somunhu avete pamusoro pedanda rechikepe.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Uchati, “Vakandirova, asi handina kukuvara! Vakandirova asi handina kuzvinzwa! Ndichamuka rinhiko kuti ndigotsvakazve waini?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
