Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Ungabi lamhawu ngabantu ababi, ungaloyisi ukuba labo.
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
Ngoba inhliziyo yabo iceba udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma uhlupho.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
Ngenhlakanipho indlu iyakhiwa, langokuqedisisa iqiniswe.
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
Langolwazi amakamelo agcwaliswa ngempahla zonke eziligugu lezimnandi.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla, lomuntu ololwazi uqinisa amandla.
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
Ngoba ngezeluleko ezihlakaniphileyo ungalawula impi yakho, lokukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
Inhlakanipho enkulu iphakeme esiwuleni; esangweni kasivuli umlomo waso.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Oceba ukwenza okubi, bazambiza ngokuthi ngumnikazi wamacebo amabi.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
Umcabango wobuwula yisono, lesideleli siyisinengiso emuntwini.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
Uba uzitshengisa uxega ngosuku lokuhlupheka, amandla akho mancinyane.
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
Bophule abasiwa ekufeni, labatatalikela ekubulaweni, kungathi ungabanqanda.
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.
Uba usithi: Khangela besingakwazi lokhu; ohlola izinhliziyo yena kayikukunanzelela yini? Olondoloza umphefumulo wakho yena kakwazi yini? ngitsho ubuyisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe?
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
Dlana uluju, ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile, lohlanga loluju lumnandi elwangeni lwakho.
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.
Lunjalo ulwazi lwenhlakanipho emphefumulweni wakho; uba uluthola, kuzakuba lomvuzo, lethemba lakho kaliyikuqunywa.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Wena okhohlakeleyo, ungacathameli umuzi wolungileyo; ungachithi indawo yakhe yokuphumula.
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
Ngoba olungileyo uzakuwa kasikhombisa, avuke futhi; kodwa abakhohlakeleyo bazakhubeka ebubini.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
Ungathokozi ngokuwa kwesitha sakho, lekukhubekeni kwaso inhliziyo yakho kayingajabuli;
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
hlezi iNkosi ikubone, kube kubi emehlweni ayo, iphendule ulaka lwayo ilususe kuso.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabenzi bobubi, ungabi lamhawu ngabakhohlakeleyo;
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
ngoba omubi kayikuba lomvuzo; isibane sabakhohlakeleyo sizacitshwa.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
Ndodana yami, yesaba uJehova lenkosi; ungahlanganyeli labaguquguqukayo;
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
ngoba incithakalo yabo izavuka masinyane; njalo ngubani owazi ukuchitheka kwabo bobabili?
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.
Lala ngawabahlakaniphileyo. Ukunaka ubuso kusahlulelo kakulunganga.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
Othi kokhohlakeleyo: Wena ulungile; abantu bazamqalekisa, izizwe zizamthukuthelela.
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
Kodwa kulabo abamkhuzayo kuzakuba lentokozo, lesibusiso esihle sizabehlela.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
Ophendula ngamazwi aqondileyo uzakwanga indebe.
27 Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
Lungisa umsebenzi wakho ngaphandle, uzilungiselele wona ensimini, emva kwalokho wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Ungabi ngumfakazi umelene lomakhelwane wakho kungelasizatho, kumbe ukhohlise ngendebe zakho.
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.
Ungathi: Njengokwenza kwakhe kimi ngizakwenza njalo kuye; ngizaphindisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe.
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
Ngedlula ensimini yevila, lesivinini somuntu oswele ingqondo;
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.
khangela-ke, konke kwakumile ameva, imbabazane yayisibekele ubuso bakho, lomthangala wakho wamatshe udilikile.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
Mina-ke ngakukhangela, ngakubeka enhliziyweni yami; ngakubona, ngemukela imfundiso.
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.
Ubuthongo obuncinyane, ukuwozela okuncinyane, ukusonga izandla okuncinyane ukuthi kulalwe,
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
besebusiza ubuyanga bakho njengesihambi, lenswelo zakho njengomuntu ohlomileyo.
