The Value of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.
Advice to the Young
7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. 9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. 11 Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! 12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! 13 We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! 14 Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
15 My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. 16 They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, 18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. 19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.
Wisdom Calls
20 Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, 21 calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
22 “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? 23 Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. 24 I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 25 You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. 26 So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— 27 when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. 28 Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 29 You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. 30 You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. 31 So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. 32 Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. 33 But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
1 Omayeletumbulo aSalomo yaDavid, ohamba yaIsrael, 2 ovanhu va shiive ounongo noutekuduliko, va ude ko eendjovo domayele, 3 va tambule outekuduliko wefiku keshe ou tau eta eendunge, ouyuki, neyukifo noshili, 4 nokweetela ovashima eshiivo nomunyasha okushiiva nokunongela. 5 Omunongo na pwilikine opo a hapupalife eendunge, nomunaendunge ta ka pewa omadiladilo e neendunge, 6 opo a shiive eyeletumbulo neendjovo dekumbiko, eendjovo dovalumenhu ovanongo noitevo yavo.
Etilokalunga olo efina lounongo
7 Okutila Omwene oko efina leshiivo. Omalai taa dini ounongo noutekuduliko. 8 Omumwange, pwilikina outekuduliko waxo, ndele ino ekelashi elongo lanyoko. 9 Osheshi lo oshidingo sha wapala komutwe woye noulyenge va wapala mofingo yoye.
10 Omumwange, ovalunde ngeenge tave ku hongaula, ino shi itavela. 11 Vo eshi tava ti: “Ila, tu endeni pamwe, natu nangele ohonde, natu nangele ngaho omuhenashipo, 12 natu va pone po ve nomwenyo ngaashi oshovafi, hamudilu ngaashi ovo hava kulukile melambo. 13 Oinima i lili nai lili i nondilo, ohatu ke i mona, omaumbo etu hatu ke a yadifa noixuulwa. 14 Oshihoololifo shoye shi umba pamwe nafye, fye atushe tu kaleni tu nokakutu kamwe akeke koimaliwa.” 15 Omumwange, ino enda nondjila pamwe navo, omhadi yoye i kelela kelila lavo. 16 Osheshi eemhadi davo tadi tondokele owii ndele tadi endelele okutilashi ohonde. 17 Osheshi eemwiyo tadi telwa epwanga moipafi yeedila di lili nodi lili.
18 Osho ngaha vo ohava nangele ohonde yavo vene, vo hava holamene omwenyo wavo vene. 19 Osho ngaha tashi ningilwa aveshe ava have likongele omamona oulunde: Oo otae va kufa omwenyo.
Okuhandukilwa kwaava ihava dulika
20 Ounongo tau ingida pondje mokule, tau yelula ondaka yao meendabo, 21 meekolonela domapandavanda tamu mbuyaana, oo tau ingida, peembululu doivelo moshilando, oo tau popi eendjovo dao: 22 “Fiyo onaini nye ovashima mu hole oushima, novasheki mwa hala okusheka, nomalai okutonda eshiivo? 23 Alukileni omakumaido ange, opo nee Ame ohandi mu tondokifile omhepo yange, handi mu shiivifile eendjovo dange. 24 Ame eshi nda ifana nye mwa anya, eshi nda nana eke lange ndelenee nande umwe a pwilikina, 25 ndelenee inamu shikula epukululo lange, nomakumaido ange inamu a itavela, 26 onghee hano naame yo ohandi ka yola ehanauno leni, Ame ohandi ka sheka etilifo leni eshi tali uya. 27 Ehaluko leni eshi tali uya ngaashi oshikungulu, nehanauno leni ngaashi omhepo yokafudaela ndele tamu wilwa koluhepo noketilo. 28 Opo nee tava ka ifana nge, ndelenee itandi ka nyamukula. Vo otava ka konga nge, ndelenee itava mono nge. 29 Shaashi vo tava tondo eshiivo ndele inava hoolola etilo lokutila Omwene, 30 inava hala okushiiva epukululo lange, ndele va dina omakumaido aeshe ange. 31 Onghee hano vo otava ka lya koiimati yokweenda kwavo nokukuta keemhangela davo. 32 Osheshi ovashima tava dipawa kokuliteeka kwavo, nokukala kwavo kuhe noshisho taku nyono po omalai. 33 Ndelenee ovo hava pwilikine nge tava ka kala nombili netulumuko, itava tilifwa komupya.”
