Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
12 But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
Nxa usithi, “Angithi besingazi lutho ngalokhu,” kambe lowo ohlola inhliziyo kakuboni lokho na? Kakwazi lokho yini onguye olinda ukuphila kwakho na? Akayikuvuza ubani lobani ngakwenzileyo na?
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
14 Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
27 Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
31 If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
33 [The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
