Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni 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?
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 — lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
