Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding give forth her voice?
Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
2 On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.
Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud.
Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
4 Unto you, men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man:
Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
5 O ye simple, understand prudence; and ye foolish, understand sense.
Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
7 For my palate shall meditate truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing tortuous or perverse in them.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold:
Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not equal to it.
Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
12 I wisdom dwell [with] prudence, and find the knowledge [which cometh] of reflection.
Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am intelligence; I have strength.
Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make just decrees;
Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.
Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
18 Riches and honour are with me; durable wealth and righteousness.
Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
23 I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi 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.
Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
27 When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
28 when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
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:
lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
30 then I was by him [his] nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
32 And now, sons, hearken unto me, and blessed are they that keep my ways:
Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
33 hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of Jehovah;
Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
36 but he that sinneth against me doeth violence to his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
