Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let thy heart keep my commandments.
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, they will add to thee.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart,
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 so thou shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 It will be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase,
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 so thy barns shall be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of his reproof.
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 For whom Jehovah loves he reproves, and he whips every son whom he receives.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 For the gain of it is better than the gain of silver, and the profit of it than fine gold.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things thou can desire are to be compared to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding he established the heavens.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 so they shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 Then thou shall walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 When thou lie down, thou shall not be afraid. Yea, thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Do not devise evil against thy neighbor, since he dwells securely by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Do not envy thou the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For the perverse man is an abomination to Jehovah, but his friendship is with the upright.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of a wicked man, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 Surely the Lord is opposed to the arrogant, but he gives grace to the lowly.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
