Zvirevo 26
1 Sechando muzhizha kana mvura pakukohwa, rukudzo haruna kufanira kubenzi.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Sezvinoita kadhimba pakubhururuka kwako, kana nyenganyenga pakubhururuka kwayo somuseve, saizvozvowo kutuka pasina mhosva hakuna zvakunoita.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Tyava yakaitirwa bhiza, matomu akaitirwa mbongoro, uye shamhu musana webenzi!
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Usapindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kana kuti iwe pachako uchafanana naro.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Pindura benzi maererano noupenzi hwaro, kuti rirege kuona sokuti rakachenjera.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Sokuzvigura tsoka kana kunwa bongozozo, ndizvo zvakaita kutumira shoko noruoko rwebenzi.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Samakumbo echirema akangorembera ndizvo zvakaita chirevo mumuromo webenzi.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Sokusungira ibwe pachipfuramabwe ndizvo zvakaita kupa rukudzo kubenzi.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Segwenzi reminzwa riri muruoko rwechidhakwa, ndizvo zvakaita chirevo chiri mumuromo webenzi.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Somuwemburi weuta anopfura pose pose, ndizvo zvakaita anoshandirwa nebenzi kana nomupfuuri zvake.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Sembwa inodzokera kumarutsi ayo, ndizvo zvakaita benzi rinodzokorora upenzi hwaro.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Unoona munhu anozviti akachenjera pakuona kwake here? Benzi rinotova netariro kupfuura iye.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Simbe inoti, “Kune shumba kunzira, shumba inotyisa iri kufamba-famba munzira dzomumusha!”
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Segonhi rinotenderera pamahinji aro, ndizvo zvinoita simbe pamubhedha wayo.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Simbe inoisa ruoko rwayo mundiro; inoita usimbe hwokutadza kurudzosera kumuromo wayo.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Simbe inozviti yakachenjera pakuona kwayo kupfuura vanhu vanomwe vanopindura nenjere.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Somunhu anobata imbwa nenzeve dzayo, ndizvo zvakaita mupfuuri anopindira pagakava risinei naye.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Somupengo unopotsera zvitsiga zvomoto, kana miseve inouraya,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 ndizvo zvakaita munhu anonyengera muvakidzani wake uye achizoti, “Ndanga ndichiita zvangu je-e!”
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Pasina huni moto unodzima; pasina makuhwa kukakavara kunopera.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Sezvakaita mazimbe pazvitsiga zvinopfuta nehuni pamoto, ndizvo zvakaita munhu wegakava pakupfutidza rukave.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Mashoko eguhwa akaita semisuva yakaisvonaka inodzika mukatikati momunhu.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Sezvinopenya zvakanamirwa kunze kwomudziyo wevhu, ndizvo zvakaita miromo inotaura zvinoyevedza, asi nomwoyo wakaipa.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Muparadzi anozvivanza namatauriro ake, asi mumwoyo make akaviga ruvengo.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Kunyange mashoko ake achitapira, usatenda zvaanotaura, nokuti mumwoyo make mune zvinonyangadza zvinomwe.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ruvengo rwake rungavigwa mukunyengera kwake, asi kuipa kwake kuchabudiswa pachena paungano.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Kana munhu akachera gomba, achawira mariri; kana munhu akakungurutsa ibwe, richakunguruka, richidzokera pamusoro pake.
He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Rurimi runoreva nhema runovenga varunorwadzisa, uye muromo unobata kumeso unoparadza.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
