Zvirevo 26
1 Sechando muzhizha kana mvura pakukohwa, rukudzo haruna kufanira kubenzi.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Sezvinoita kadhimba pakubhururuka kwako, kana nyenganyenga pakubhururuka kwayo somuseve, saizvozvowo kutuka pasina mhosva hakuna zvakunoita.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 Tyava yakaitirwa bhiza, matomu akaitirwa mbongoro, uye shamhu musana webenzi!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Usapindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kana kuti iwe pachako uchafanana naro.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Pindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kuti rirege kuona sokuti rakachenjera.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sokuzvigura tsoka kana kunwa bongozozo, ndizvo zvakaita kutumira shoko noruoko rwebenzi.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Samakumbo echirema akangorembera ndizvo zvakaita chirevo mumuromo webenzi.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Sokusungira ibwe pachipfuramabwe ndizvo zvakaita kupa rukudzo kubenzi.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Segwenzi reminzwa riri muruoko rwechidhakwa, ndizvo zvakaita chirevo chiri mumuromo webenzi.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Somuwemburi weuta anopfura pose pose, ndizvo zvakaita anoshandirwa nebenzi kana nomupfuuri zvake.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Sembwa inodzokera kumarutsi ayo, ndizvo zvakaita benzi rinodzokorora upenzi hwaro.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Unoona munhu anozviti akachenjera pakuona kwake here? Benzi rinotova netariro kupfuura iye.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Simbe inoti, “Kune shumba kunzira, shumba inotyisa iri kufamba-famba munzira dzomumusha!”
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Segonhi rinotenderera pamahinji aro, ndizvo zvinoita simbe pamubhedha wayo.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Simbe inoisa ruoko rwayo mundiro; inoita usimbe hwokutadza kurudzosera kumuromo wayo.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Simbe inozviti yakachenjera pakuona kwayo kupfuura vanhu vanomwe vanopindura nenjere.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Somunhu anobata imbwa nenzeve dzayo, ndizvo zvakaita mupfuuri anopindira pagakava risinei naye.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Somupengo unopotsera zvitsiga zvomoto, kana miseve inouraya,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 ndizvo zvakaita munhu anonyengera muvakidzani wake uye achizoti, “Ndanga ndichiita zvangu je-e!”
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Pasina huni moto unodzima; pasina makuhwa kukakavara kunopera.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Sezvakaita mazimbe pazvitsiga zvinopfuta nehuni pamoto, ndizvo zvakaita munhu wegakava pakupfutidza rukave.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Mashoko eguhwa akaita semisuva yakaisvonaka inodzika mukatikati momunhu.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Sezvinopenya zvakanamirwa kunze kwomudziyo wevhu, ndizvo zvakaita miromo inotaura zvinoyevedza, asi nomwoyo wakaipa.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Muparadzi anozvivanza namatauriro ake, asi mumwoyo make akaviga ruvengo.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Kunyange mashoko ake achitapira, usatenda zvaanotaura, nokuti mumwoyo make mune zvinonyangadza zvinomwe.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ruvengo rwake rungavigwa mukunyengera kwake, asi kuipa kwake kuchabudiswa pachena paungano.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Kana munhu akachera gomba, achawira mariri; kana munhu akakungurutsa ibwe, richakunguruka, richidzokera pamusoro pake.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Rurimi runoreva nhema runovenga varunorwadzisa, uye muromo unobata kumeso unoparadza.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
