Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Mjezise ngoswazi ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
23 Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
