Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my law, but let thy heart keep my commandments.
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, they will add to thee.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart,
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 so thou shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 It will be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase,
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 so thy barns shall be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of his reproof.
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom Jehovah loves he reproves, and he whips every son whom he receives.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For the gain of it is better than the gain of silver, and the profit of it than fine gold.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things thou can desire are to be compared to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding he established the heavens.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 so they shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then thou shall walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 When thou lie down, thou shall not be afraid. Yea, thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Do not devise evil against thy neighbor, since he dwells securely by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Do not envy thou the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the perverse man is an abomination to Jehovah, but his friendship is with the upright.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of a wicked man, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Surely the Lord is opposed to the arrogant, but he gives grace to the lowly.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
