Zvirevo 4
1 Teererai, vanakomana vangu, kurayira kwababa venyu; nyatsoteererai mugowana kunzwisisa.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Ndinokupai dzidziso yakanaka, saka regai kurasa dzidziso yangu.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Pandakanga ndiri mukomana mumba mababa vangu, ndichiri muduku uye mwana mumwe chete wamai vangu,
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 baba vangu vakandidzidzisa vachiti, “Mwoyo wako ngaubatisise mashoko angu; chengeta mirayiro yangu ugorarama.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Wana uchenjeri, wana kunzwisisa; usakanganwa mashoko angu kana kubva paari.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Usarasa uchenjeri, ipapo huchakuchengeta; hude, ihwo hugokurinda.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Uchenjeri chinhu chikuru; naizvozvo wana uchenjeri. Kunyange huchikutorera zvose zvaunazvo, wana kunzwisisa.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Uhukudze; ipapo huchakusimudzira; uhumbundikire, ipapo huchakukudza.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Huchakupfekedza chishongo chenyasha mumusoro mako, uye huchakupa korona yokubwinya.”
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Teerera, mwanakomana wangu, gamuchira zvandinotaura, ipapo makore oupenyu hwako achava mazhinji.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Ndinokudzidzisa nzira youchenjeri uye ndiri kukutungamirira panzira dzakarurama.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Paunofamba, tsoka dzako hadzingapinganidzwi, paunomhanya, haungagumburwi.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Batisisa kurayirwa, usarega kuchienda; nyatsokurinda zvakanaka, nokuti ndihwo upenyu hwako.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Usaisa rutsoka panzira dzavakaipa, kana kufamba panzira dzavanhu vakaipa.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Udzinzvenge, usafamba padziri; tsauka padziri ugopfuurira mberi.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Nokuti havangavati vasati vaita zvakaipa; havangabatwi nehope kusvikira vaita kuti mumwe munhu aputsike.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Vanodya zvokudya zvezvakaipa, uye vanonwa waini yezvechisimba.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Nzira yavakarurama yakafanana nechiedza chamambakwedza, chinoramba chichiwedzera kubwinya kusvikira pachiedza chamasikati makuru.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 Asi nzira yavakaipa yakaita serima guru; havazivi zvinoita kuti vagumburwe.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Mwanakomana wangu, nyatsoteerera zvandinotaura; teereresa kumashoko angu.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Usaite kuti abve pameso ako, achengete pakati pomwoyo wako;
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 nokuti upenyu kuna avo vanoawana uye noutano kumuviri wose womunhu.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Pamusoro pazvo zvose, chengetedza mwoyo wako, nokuti ndicho chitubu choupenyu.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Bvisa zvinotsausa pamuromo wako; kutaura kwakaora ngakuve kure nemiromo yako.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Meso ako ngaatarire mberi bedzi, ramba wakatarira mberi kwako.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Gadzirira tsoka dzako gwara ugofamba munzira dzakasimba chete.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Usatsaukira kurudyi kana kuruboshwe; chengetedza rutsoka rwako kuti rusaende pane zvakaipa.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
