How Proverbs Can Be Used
1 These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
the son of David.
2 Proverbs will teach you
wisdom and self-control
and how to understand
sayings with deep meanings.
3 You will learn what is right
and honest and fair.
4 From these, an ordinary person
can learn to be smart,
and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.
5 If you are already wise,
you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
6 proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom,
and all kinds of riddles.
7 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
of knowledge.
Only a fool rejects wisdom
and good advice.
Warnings against Bad Friends
8 My child, obey the teachings
of your parents,
9 and wear their teachings
as you would a pretty hat
or a lovely necklace.
10 Don't be tempted by sinners
or listen 11 when they say,
“Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
just for the fun of it!
12 They're well and healthy now,
but we'll finish them off
once and for all.
13 We'll take their valuables
and fill our homes
with stolen goods.
14 If you join our gang,
you'll get your share.”
15 Don't follow anyone like that
or do what they do.
16 They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
perhaps even murder.
17 They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
but ignores the trap.
18 They gang up to murder someone,
but they are the victims.
19 The wealth you get from crime
robs you of your life.
Wisdom Speaks
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets
wherever crowds gather.
21 She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
as she says to the people,
22 “How much longer
will you enjoy
being stupid fools?
Won't you ever stop sneering
and laughing at knowledge?
23 Listen as I correct you
and tell you what I think.
24 You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25 you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
26 “So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27 or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28 You will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.
29 No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the Lord.
30 You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
31 “Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.
32 Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.
33 But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster.”
1 Omayeletumbulo gaSalomo yaDavid, omukwaniilwa gwaIsrael.
2 Mpaka ope na omayeletumbulo ngoka tage ku kwatha okudhimbulula uunongo nomayele go opala nokuuva ko omapopyo gomadhiladhilo gomuule. 3 Otage ku longo, nkene to kala omunandunge nomusimani, omuyuuki nomunashili. 4 Otaga gandja omayele kaantu yanathangwa, uunongo nuunkulungu kaagundjuka.
5 Omayeletumbulo ngaka otaga gwedhele kontseyo yaanongo nokugandja ewiliko kaanandunge, 6 opo yu uve ko iiholekwa yomayeletumbulo noyomayele noohapu dhaanawino nootumbutumbu dhawo.
Omakumagidho kaagundjuka
7 Etilo okutila Omuwa olyo ekota lyuunongo; aagoya ohaa dhini owino neputudho.
8 Mumwandje, pulakena omakumagidho gaho, ngoye ino ekelahi omapukululo ganyoko. 9 Oshoka ogo oshishani oshiwanawa shokomutse gwoye nokalyenge kuulenga komothingo yoye.
10 Mumwandje, aalunde nge taye ku hongolola, ino ya zimina, 11 ngele taa ti: “Tu yeni tu ka langeleni ombinzi, natu ponokele omukeenandjo, epwanga lyowala, 12 natu ya nine po ondhilu ngoshaasi ye na omwenyo, naandjolowele ongaamboka taa kulukile moombogo, 13 opo tu ki ilikolele iinima yi na ondilo, tu udhe omagumbo getu niihakanwa. 14 Umbila owala oshihogololitho shoye mokati ketu, atuhe otatu ka kala tu na iitopolelwa yi thike pamwe.”
15 Mumwandje, ino ya lamba mondjila ndjoka, oompadhi dhoye dhi galula mepola lyawo. 16 Oshoka oompadhi dhawo otadhi tondokele kuuwinayi, notaa endelele okutilahi ombinzi, 17 oshoka omwigo otagu lukililwa osima yowala montaneho yuudhila. 18 Otaa langele ombinzi yawo yene, otayi ilangele yo yene. 19 Osho taa ningwa ayehe mboka taa dhiladhila uukolokoshi, otashi kutha mwene omwenyo.
Owino tayi igidha
20 Owino otayi igidha pondje, otayi yelutha ewi lyayo momapandaanda, 21 otayi igidha pookolonela nomomapandaanda goshilando, poombululu dhomiyelo tayi kugagana tayi popi oohapu dhayo:
22 “Ne aantu yanathangwa, sigo uunake tamu kala muunathangwa weni; aasheki, sigo uunake tamu kala tamu sheke; aagoya, sigo uunake tamu tondo uunongo? 23 Pungulukileni komakumagidho gandje, nena ombepo yandje otayi ke mu kungulukila, nonda hala ndi mu tseyithile oohapu dhandje. 24 Molwashoka ondi ithana, ne nomwa tindi, onda ganeke oshikaha shandje nokape na ngoka a pulakene, 25 inamu landula omayele gandje, nomakumagidho gandje inamu ga tseya, 26 onkee ano tandi ke mu geela pekano lyeni notandi ke mu sheka, iihuna nge tayi mu adha. 27 Ehaluko lyeni otali ke ya lya fa oshikungulu, nekano lyeni tali ya lya fa epukupuku lyombepo, ngele uuyina nuuwehame tau mu lambele. 28 Nena otamu ka ithana ndje, ihe itandi ka yamukula; otamu ka konga ndje, ihe itamu mono ndje. 29 Molwashoka mwa tondo uunongo noinamu hogolola etilo okutila Omuwa, 30 inamu hala okutseya omayele gandje nomwa dhini omakumagidho gandje agehe, 31 otamu ka lya oshiyimati shoondjenda dheni notamu ka kuta koonkundathana dheni. 32 Aantu yanathangwa otaa si, oshoka otaa ekelehi owino. Aagoya otaa hanagulwa po kuuhethi wawo yene. 33 Ihe ngoka ta pulakene ndje, ota kala megameno, niihuna yiiponga itayi mu adha.”
