Proverbs 23
1 If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
2 and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
4 If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
5 If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
12 Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Wena uzamtshaya ngoswazi, ukhulule umphefumulo wakhe esihogweni. (Sheol h7585)
15 Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
16 and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
18 For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
22 Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
25 Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
26 [My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
31 For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
33 Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
34 And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
