< Zvirevo 26 >
1 Sechando muzhizha kana mvura pakukohwa, rukudzo haruna kufanira kubenzi.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Sezvinoita kadhimba pakubhururuka kwako, kana nyenganyenga pakubhururuka kwayo somuseve, saizvozvowo kutuka pasina mhosva hakuna zvakunoita.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Tyava yakaitirwa bhiza, matomu akaitirwa mbongoro, uye shamhu musana webenzi!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Usapindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kana kuti iwe pachako uchafanana naro.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Pindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kuti rirege kuona sokuti rakachenjera.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Sokuzvigura tsoka kana kunwa bongozozo, ndizvo zvakaita kutumira shoko noruoko rwebenzi.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Samakumbo echirema akangorembera ndizvo zvakaita chirevo mumuromo webenzi.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Sokusungira ibwe pachipfuramabwe ndizvo zvakaita kupa rukudzo kubenzi.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Segwenzi reminzwa riri muruoko rwechidhakwa, ndizvo zvakaita chirevo chiri mumuromo webenzi.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Somuwemburi weuta anopfura pose pose, ndizvo zvakaita anoshandirwa nebenzi kana nomupfuuri zvake.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Sembwa inodzokera kumarutsi ayo, ndizvo zvakaita benzi rinodzokorora upenzi hwaro.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Unoona munhu anozviti akachenjera pakuona kwake here? Benzi rinotova netariro kupfuura iye.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Simbe inoti, “Kune shumba kunzira, shumba inotyisa iri kufamba-famba munzira dzomumusha!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Segonhi rinotenderera pamahinji aro, ndizvo zvinoita simbe pamubhedha wayo.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Simbe inoisa ruoko rwayo mundiro; inoita usimbe hwokutadza kurudzosera kumuromo wayo.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Simbe inozviti yakachenjera pakuona kwayo kupfuura vanhu vanomwe vanopindura nenjere.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Somunhu anobata imbwa nenzeve dzayo, ndizvo zvakaita mupfuuri anopindira pagakava risinei naye.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Somupengo unopotsera zvitsiga zvomoto, kana miseve inouraya,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 ndizvo zvakaita munhu anonyengera muvakidzani wake uye achizoti, “Ndanga ndichiita zvangu je-e!”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Pasina huni moto unodzima; pasina makuhwa kukakavara kunopera.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Sezvakaita mazimbe pazvitsiga zvinopfuta nehuni pamoto, ndizvo zvakaita munhu wegakava pakupfutidza rukave.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Mashoko eguhwa akaita semisuva yakaisvonaka inodzika mukatikati momunhu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Sezvinopenya zvakanamirwa kunze kwomudziyo wevhu, ndizvo zvakaita miromo inotaura zvinoyevedza, asi nomwoyo wakaipa.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Muparadzi anozvivanza namatauriro ake, asi mumwoyo make akaviga ruvengo.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Kunyange mashoko ake achitapira, usatenda zvaanotaura, nokuti mumwoyo make mune zvinonyangadza zvinomwe.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Ruvengo rwake rungavigwa mukunyengera kwake, asi kuipa kwake kuchabudiswa pachena paungano.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Kana munhu akachera gomba, achawira mariri; kana munhu akakungurutsa ibwe, richakunguruka, richidzokera pamusoro pake.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Rurimi runoreva nhema runovenga varunorwadzisa, uye muromo unobata kumeso unoparadza.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.