Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom cry out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired cannot be compared to it.
Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.
Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
