Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
3 For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
4 who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
wangifundisa ubaba wathi, “Abambe amazwi ami ngenhliziyo yakho yonke; gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile.
5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqedisisa; ungawakhohlwa amazwi ami, kumbe ugudluke kuwo.
6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
Ungafulatheli ukuhlakanipha, kuzakuvikela; kuthande, kuzakulinda.
Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
8 Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
9 that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
10 Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
Zwana mntanami, yamukela lokho engikutshoyo, ukuze insuku zokuphila kwakho zibe zinengi.
11 For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
12 For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
16 For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
17 For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
Badla isinkwa sobubi banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
Indlela yabalungileyo injengovivi lokusa, kukhule ukukhanya kwalo kuze kuphelele emini.
19 But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
Kodwa indlela yababi ifana lomnyama omkhulu; kabazi ukuthi kuyini okubakhubayo.
20 [My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
Ndodana yami, zwana lokhu engikutshoyo; lalelisisa amazwi ami.
21 that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
23 Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
24 Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
26 Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
