Zvirevo 4
1 Teererai, vanakomana vangu, kurayira kwababa venyu; nyatsoteererai mugowana kunzwisisa.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka, saka regai kurasa dzidziso yangu.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Pandakanga ndiri mukomana mumba mababa vangu, ndichiri muduku uye mwana mumwe chete wamai vangu,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 baba vangu vakandidzidzisa vachiti, “Mwoyo wako ngaubatisise mashoko angu; chengeta mirayiro yangu ugorarama.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Wana uchenjeri, wana kunzwisisa; usakanganwa mashoko angu kana kubva paari.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Usarasa uchenjeri, ipapo huchakuchengeta; hude, ihwo hugokurinda.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru; naizvozvo wana uchenjeri. Kunyange huchikutorera zvose zvaunazvo, wana kunzwisisa.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Uhukudze; ipapo huchakusimudzira; uhumbundikire, ipapo huchakukudza.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Huchakupfekedza chishongo chenyasha mumusoro mako, uye huchakupa korona yokubwinya.”
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, gamuchira zvandinotaura, ipapo makore oupenyu hwako achava mazhinji.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Ndinokudzidzisa nzira youchenjeri uye ndiri kukutungamirira panzira dzakarurama.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Paunofamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi, paunomhanya, haungagumburwi.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Batisisa kurayirwa, usarega kuchienda; nyatsokurinda zvakanaka, nokuti ndihwo upenyu hwako.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Usaisa rutsoka panzira dzavakaipa, kana kufamba panzira dzavanhu vakaipa.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Udzinzvenge, usafamba padziri; tsauka padziri ugopfuurira mberi.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Nokuti havangavati vasati vaita zvakaipa; havangabatwi nehope kusvikira vaita kuti mumwe munhu aputsike.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, uye vanonwa waini yezvechisimba.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Nzira yavakarurama yakafanana nechiedza chamambakwedza, chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pachiedza chamasikati makuru.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Asi nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima guru; havazivi zvinoita kuti vagumburwe.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Mwanakomana wangu, nyatsoteerera zvandinotaura; teereresa kumashoko angu.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Usaite kuti abve pameso ako, achengete pakati pomwoyo wako;
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 nokuti upenyu kuna avo vanoawana uye noutano kumuviri wose womunhu.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Pamusoro pazvo zvose, chengetedza mwoyo wako, nokuti ndicho chitubu choupenyu.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Bvisa zvinotsausa pamuromo wako; kutaura kwakaora ngakuve kure nemiromo yako.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Meso ako ngaatarire mberi bedzi, ramba wakatarira mberi kwako.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara ugofamba munzira dzakasimba chete.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; chengetedza rutsoka rwako kuti rusaende pane zvakaipa.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
