Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
