Proverbs 1
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba; ukuba bazwisise amazwi okuqedisisa;
3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho, besenza okulungileyo, okufaneleyo lokuqondileyo;
4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha, ulwazi lokukhetha okuqondileyo kwabatsha
5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe, kuthi obonisisayo azuze izeluleko,
6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso, izitsho lamalibho abahlakaniphileyo.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, kodwa iziwula ziyakweyisa ukuqedisisa lokuzithiba.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo njalo ungadeli imfundiso kanyoko.
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho lomgaxo wokucecisa intamo yakho.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga, ungaze wavuma.
11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe; kasicathamele abantu sichithe igazi, kasicwathele omunye umuntu ongelacala;
12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
kasibaginye bephila njengengcwaba, sibajwamule njengabawele emgodini; (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango;
14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
phathisana lathi ukuze sibelesikhwama sinye”
15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo, ungalugxobi olwakho ezindleleni zazo;
16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni, bachitha igazi lula.
17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule lithe dandalazi emehlweni ezinyoni!
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi; bajuma okwabo ukuphila.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni, kuphakamisa ilizwi lakho ezinkundleni;
21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona, kuyatshumayela emasangweni omuzi kuthi:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
“Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na? Koze kube nini izideleli zikholisa ukudelela leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi na?
23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke! Ngizalivulela isifuba sami, ngilivezele imicabango yami.
24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza, kwangabi khona onginanzayo ngiselula isandla sami,
25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
njengoba lala izeluleko zami njalo kalavuma ukukhuza kwami,
26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka; ngizaliklolodela nxa lisehlelwa lusizi,
27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho; nxa incithakalo ilikhukhula njengesivunguzane, nxa usizi lezinhlupheko ziligabhela.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidinga bangangitholi.
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi kabaze bakhetha ukwesaba uThixo
30 They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami, badelela ukukhuza kwami,
31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo basuthiswe ngezithelo zamacebo abo.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala, lokungananzi kweziphukuphuku kuzazibhubhisa;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile, engesabi lutho olungamlimaza.”
