Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
