Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
2 On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
3 Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
4 “To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
5 O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
7 For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
9 They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
11 For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
12 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
16 By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
19 My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
23 From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
26 before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
28 when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
29 when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, 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 a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
31 I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in 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 Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
36 But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
