Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
Ukuhlakanipha kakumemezi yini? Ukuqedisisa kakuphakamisi ilizwi lakho na?
2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
Emiqolweni yezindlela, emahlanganweni ezindlela kulapho okujame khona;
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
emasangweni angena phakathi kwedolobho, ezintubeni kuyamemeza kakhulu kusithi:
4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
“Ngimemeza lina, madoda; ilizwi lami libiza bonke abantu.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
Lina eliyizithutha, zuzani ukuqonda; lina ziphukuphuku, zuzani ukuqedisisa.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Lalelani ngoba ngilitshela izinto eziqakathekileyo; ngivula izindebe zami ngikhuluma okuqondileyo.
7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Umlomo wami ukhuluma okuliqiniso, ngoba izindebe zami ziyabenyanya ububi.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami aqondile; kalikho lelilodwa elitshekileyo loba elingcolileyo.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Kulowo ozwisisayo wonke alungile; akulankohliso kulabo abalolwazi.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
Khetha iseluleko sami kulesiliva, ulwazi kulegolide elikhethiweyo,
11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
ngoba ukuhlakanipha kuligugu okudlula amarubhi, njalo akulanto ongayifisa ezifisweni zakho okulingana lakho.
12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
Mina, kuhlakanipha, ngihlala ndawonye lokuqondisisa; ngilolwazi lokukhetha kuhle.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
Ukwesaba uThixo yikuzonda ububi; ngiyakuzonda ukuzazisa lobuqholo, ukuziphatha kubi lenkulumo ebolileyo.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
Ukweluleka lokwahlulela okuhle kungokwami; ngilokuzwisisa lamandla.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
Amakhosi abusa ngenxa yami lababusi balakho ukutshaya imithetho elungileyo;
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
amakhosana abusa ngami, lazozonke izikhulu ezibusa emhlabeni.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
Ngiyabathanda labo abangithandayo, labo abangidingayo bayangithola.
18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
Kimi kukhona inotho lodumo, inotho engapheliyo lokuphumelela.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Izithelo zami zingcono kulegolide elicengiweyo; okuphuma kimi kwedlula isiliva sekhethelo.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Ngihamba ngendlela yokulunga, ngilandela umkhondo wokuqonda,
21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
ngiyabela inotho kulabo abangithandayo ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
UThixo wangenza ngaba khona ngaqalela konke okukhona, kuqala kokwenza ezinye izinto;
23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
ngaba khona ekudabukeni kwezinto, kwasekuqaleni, umhlaba ungakabi khona.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Kungakabi lezilwandle, ngasengizelwe, kungakabi khona izihotsha ezigcwele amanzi;
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
izintaba zingakamiswa ensikeni zazo, engakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe,
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
uThixo engakawenzi umhlaba lamaganga, loba lonke uthuli lomhlaba.
27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
Ngangikhona uThixo ehlela kuhle izulu, ephawula kuhle imingcele yomkhathi lolwandle,
28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
esenza amayezi emkhathini wazizinzisa inziki zolwandle,
29 when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
ebeka imingcele yolwandle ukuze amanzi angedluli izimiso zakhe, ngesikhathi lapho emisa izisekelo zomhlaba.
30 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Ngalesosikhathi ngangingumbumbi eceleni kwakhe. Ngangilenjabulo enkulu insuku ngensuku, ngithokoza ukuba laye kokuphela,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
ngithokoza ngomhlaba wakhe wonke ngijabuliswa yibukhona babantu.
32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
Ngakho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; babusisekile labo abalondoloza izindlela zami.
33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Lalelani imfundiso yami ukuze lihlakaniphe; lingaqali ukuyidela.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Ubusisiwe lowomuntu ongilalelayo, olinda imihla yonke eminyango yami, elindile entubeni yami.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
Ngoba lowo ongifumanayo uzuza ukuphila emukeliswe ukuthandwa nguThixo.
36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Kodwa lowo owehlulekayo ukungifumana uyazilimaza; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.”
