Zvirevo 31

¹Mashoko amambo Remueri; zvirevo zvaakadzidziswa namai vake.The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

²Nhai, mwanakomana wangu! Nhai, mwanakomana wemhiko dzangu!What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

³Rega kupa vakadzi simba rako, Nenzira dzako kune zvinoparadza madzimambo.Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

⁴Iwe Remueri, hazvifaniri madzimambo, hazvifaniri madzimambo kunwa waini; Namachinda kuti, `Doro riripiko?'It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

⁵Varege kunwa, vachizokanganwa murayiro, Varege kukanganisa kururamisira vamwe vanotambudzika.Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶Ipai anoda kuparara doro, Neanomoyo unorwadza waini;Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

⁷Ngaanwe, akanganwe urombo hwake, Arege kucharangarira kutambudzika kwake.Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸Shamisira mbeveve muromo wako, Urwire mhaka dzavose vakadai vakasiyiwa.Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹Shamisa muromo wako, utonge zvakarurama, Ururamisire murombo neanoshaiwa.Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰Ndianiko angawana mukadzi anozviita zvakanaka? Nokuti mutengo wake unokunda kwazvo mutengo wamaparera.Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹moyo womurume wake unomutenda, Naiye haangashaiwi fuma.The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²Unoitira murume wake zvakanaka, haamuitiri zvakaipa Mazuva ose oupenyu hwake.She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³Anotsvaka mvere noruchinda, Achibata namaoko ake nomufaro.She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴Akafanana nezvikepe zvavatengesi; Anondotora zvokudya zvake kure.She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵Anomuka huchiri usiku, Nokupa mhuri yake zvokudya, Navashandiri vake basa ravo.She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶Anorangarira munda, ndokuutenga; Anosima munda wemizambiringa nezvaakawana namaoko ake.She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷Anozvisunga chiuno nesimba, Nokusimbisa maoko ake.She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

¹⁸Anoona kuti kushambadzira kwake kwabatsira; Mwenje wake haudzimi vusiku.She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹Anotambanudzira ruoko rwake kune chokurukisa; Maoko ake anobata chinorukwa.She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰Anotambanudzira murombo ruoko rwake; Anotandavadzira anoshaiwa maoko ake.She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹Haatyi chando pamusoro peimba yake, Nokuti mhuri yake yose yakafuka nguvo tsvuku.She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²²Anozviitira mitsamhiro inoukomba; nguvo yake mucheka wakaisvonaka nomutsvuku.She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

²³Murume wake anozikanwa pamasuo eguta, Kana agere pakati pavakuru venyika.Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴Anoita zvokufuka zvomucheka achizvitengesa, Anovigira vatengesi zvisungo zvezviuno.She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵Simba nokukudzwa ndizvo zvokufuka zvake; Anoseka kana achifunga nguva inouya.Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶Anoshamisa muromo wake nouchenjeri; Rurimi rwake runodzidzisa nounyoro.She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷Anotarira zvakanaka kufamba kwemhuri yake, Asi iwe unovakunda vose. Asingadyi zvokudya zvousimbe.She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Vana vake vanomuka, vachimuti, Makaropafadzwa; Nomurume wakewo anomurumbidza, achiti,Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Vakunda vazhinji vakaita zvakanaka,asi iwe unovakunda vose.Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

³⁰Zvinofadza zvinonyengedzera, unaki hahuna maturo; Asi mukadzi anotya Jehovha, ndiye anofanira kurumbidzwa.Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

³¹Chimupai zvakafanira zvaakabata namaoko ake; Mabasa ake ngaamurumbidze pamasuo eguta.Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.