Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
