Proverbs 24
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
12 If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
Nxa usithi, “Angithi besingazi lutho ngalokhu,” kambe lowo ohlola inhliziyo kakuboni lokho na? Kakwazi lokho yini onguye olinda ukuphila kwakho na? Akayikuvuza ubani lobani ngakwenzileyo na?
13 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
14 So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
15 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
16 For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
25 They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
26 He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
30 I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
31 And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
