Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
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?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni 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?
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
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.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi 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.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
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.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
