Proverbs 31
1 These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 “Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
