Proverbs 22
1 A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
3 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
4 The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
5 Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
6 Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
8 Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
9 If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
10 Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
11 Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
12 The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
14 The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
15 Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
16 If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
17 Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
18 for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
19 I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
20 Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
21 They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
22 For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
23 for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
24 Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
25 in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
26 Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
27 for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
28 Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
29 If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
