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 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.”
