Miyambo 18
1 Munthu wokonda kukhala yekha amafunafuna zomukomera yekha; iye amatsutsana ndi malangizo onse anzeru.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 Chitsiru chilibe chidwi chomvetsa zinthu, koma chimakondwera ndi kuyankhula maganizo ake okha.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Kuyipa mtima kukabwera, manyozonso amabwera. Manyazi amabwera pamodzi ndi kunyozeka.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Mawu a munthu ali ngati madzi akuya, kasupe wa nzeru ndiye mtsinje wotumphuka.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Si kwabwino kukondera munthu woyipa pa milandu; kapena kupondereza munthu wosalakwa.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Mawu a chitsiru amautsa mkangano; pakamwa pake pamayitana mkwapulo.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Pakamwa pa chitsiru ndipo pamabweretsa chiwonongeko chake, ndipo milomo yake ili ngati msampha wa moyo wake.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Mawu a miseche ali ngati chakudya chokoma; amalowa mʼmimba mwa munthu.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Munthu waulesi pa ntchito yake ali pachibale ndi munthu amene amawononga zinthu.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Dzina la Yehova lili ngati nsanja yolimba; wolungama amathawiramo napulumuka.
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Chuma cha anthu olemera chili ngati mzinda wake wolimba; chili ngati khoma lalitali limene amaganiza kuti limutchinjiriza.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Chiwonongeko chisanafike, mtima wa munthu umakhala wonyada, koma ulemu umatsatira kudzichepetsa.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 Ukayankha usanamvetse bwino nkhani, umenewo ndi uchitsiru ndipo umachita manyazi.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Mtima wa munthu utha kupirira pa matenda, koma munthu akataya mtima ndani angathe kumulimbitsanso.
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Munthu wanzeru amawonjezera nzeru zina; amafunafuna kudziwa bwino zinthu.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Mphatso ya munthu imamutsekulira njira yomufikitsa pamaso pa anthu akuluakulu.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Amene amayamba kufotokoza mlandu wake amaoneka ngati wolungama ndiye mpaka mnzake atabwera ndi kumufunsa bwino.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Kuchita maere kumathetsa mikangano; amalekanitsa okangana amphamvu.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Mʼbale amene wamuthandiza amakhala ngati mzinda wolimba, koma kukangana naye kumatsekereza thandizo.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Munthu amapeza bwino malingana ndi zoyankhula zake. Adzakhuta ndi zipatso za pakamwa pake.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Mawu ako angathe kukuphetsa kapena kukukhalitsa moyo. Wokonda kuyankhulayankhula adzadya zipatso zake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Wapeza mkazi wapeza chinthu chabwino ndipo Yehova amamukomera mtima.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23 Munthu wosauka amapempha koma munthu wolemera amayankha mwaukali.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Pali abwenzi amene chibwenzi chawo nʼchapamaso, koma pali bwenzi limene limakukangamira kuposa mʼbale wako.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
