Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not 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, will they 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 shalt thou 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 shall thy barns 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; Neither be weary of his reproof:
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof 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 canst desire are to be compared unto 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 them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth 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 shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt 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, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
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 Withhold not good from them 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 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the perverse 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 the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto 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.
