Zvirevo 4
1 Teererai, vanakomana vangu, kurayira kwababa venyu; nyatsoteererai mugowana kunzwisisa.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka, saka regai kurasa dzidziso yangu.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Pandakanga ndiri mukomana mumba mababa vangu, ndichiri muduku uye mwana mumwe chete wamai vangu,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 baba vangu vakandidzidzisa vachiti, “Mwoyo wako ngaubatisise mashoko angu; chengeta mirayiro yangu ugorarama.
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Wana uchenjeri, wana kunzwisisa; usakanganwa mashoko angu kana kubva paari.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Usarasa uchenjeri, ipapo huchakuchengeta; hude, ihwo hugokurinda.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru; naizvozvo wana uchenjeri. Kunyange huchikutorera zvose zvaunazvo, wana kunzwisisa.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Uhukudze; ipapo huchakusimudzira; uhumbundikire, ipapo huchakukudza.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 Huchakupfekedza chishongo chenyasha mumusoro mako, uye huchakupa korona yokubwinya.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, gamuchira zvandinotaura, ipapo makore oupenyu hwako achava mazhinji.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Ndinokudzidzisa nzira youchenjeri uye ndiri kukutungamirira panzira dzakarurama.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Paunofamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi, paunomhanya, haungagumburwi.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Batisisa kurayirwa, usarega kuchienda; nyatsokurinda zvakanaka, nokuti ndihwo upenyu hwako.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Usaisa rutsoka panzira dzavakaipa, kana kufamba panzira dzavanhu vakaipa.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Udzinzvenge, usafamba padziri; tsauka padziri ugopfuurira mberi.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Nokuti havangavati vasati vaita zvakaipa; havangabatwi nehope kusvikira vaita kuti mumwe munhu aputsike.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless 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.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Asi nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima guru; havazivi zvinoita kuti vagumburwe.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Mwanakomana wangu, nyatsoteerera zvandinotaura; teereresa kumashoko angu.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Usaite kuti abve pameso ako, achengete pakati pomwoyo wako;
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of 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 their whole body.
23 Pamusoro pazvo zvose, chengetedza mwoyo wako, nokuti ndicho chitubu choupenyu.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Bvisa zvinotsausa pamuromo wako; kutaura kwakaora ngakuve kure nemiromo yako.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Meso ako ngaatarire mberi bedzi, ramba wakatarira mberi kwako.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara ugofamba munzira dzakasimba chete.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; chengetedza rutsoka rwako kuti rusaende pane zvakaipa.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
