Zvirevo 4
1 Teererai, vanakomana vangu, kurayira kwababa venyu; nyatsoteererai mugowana kunzwisisa.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka, saka regai kurasa dzidziso yangu.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Pandakanga ndiri mukomana mumba mababa vangu, ndichiri muduku uye mwana mumwe chete wamai vangu,
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 baba vangu vakandidzidzisa vachiti, “Mwoyo wako ngaubatisise mashoko angu; chengeta mirayiro yangu ugorarama.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Wana uchenjeri, wana kunzwisisa; usakanganwa mashoko angu kana kubva paari.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Usarasa uchenjeri, ipapo huchakuchengeta; hude, ihwo hugokurinda.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru; naizvozvo wana uchenjeri. Kunyange huchikutorera zvose zvaunazvo, wana kunzwisisa.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Uhukudze; ipapo huchakusimudzira; uhumbundikire, ipapo huchakukudza.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Huchakupfekedza chishongo chenyasha mumusoro mako, uye huchakupa korona yokubwinya.”
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, gamuchira zvandinotaura, ipapo makore oupenyu hwako achava mazhinji.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Ndinokudzidzisa nzira youchenjeri uye ndiri kukutungamirira panzira dzakarurama.
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 Paunofamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi, paunomhanya, haungagumburwi.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Batisisa kurayirwa, usarega kuchienda; nyatsokurinda zvakanaka, nokuti ndihwo upenyu hwako.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Usaisa rutsoka panzira dzavakaipa, kana kufamba panzira dzavanhu vakaipa.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Udzinzvenge, usafamba padziri; tsauka padziri ugopfuurira mberi.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Nokuti havangavati vasati vaita zvakaipa; havangabatwi nehope kusvikira vaita kuti mumwe munhu aputsike.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Asi nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima guru; havazivi zvinoita kuti vagumburwe.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Mwanakomana wangu, nyatsoteerera zvandinotaura; teereresa kumashoko angu.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Usaite kuti abve pameso ako, achengete pakati pomwoyo wako;
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 nokuti upenyu kuna avo vanoawana uye noutano kumuviri wose womunhu.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Pamusoro pazvo zvose, chengetedza mwoyo wako, nokuti ndicho chitubu choupenyu.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Bvisa zvinotsausa pamuromo wako; kutaura kwakaora ngakuve kure nemiromo yako.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Meso ako ngaatarire mberi bedzi, ramba wakatarira mberi kwako.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara ugofamba munzira dzakasimba chete.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
27 Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; chengetedza rutsoka rwako kuti rusaende pane zvakaipa.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
