Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
2 They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba; ukuba bazwisise amazwi okuqedisisa;
3 They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho, besenza okulungileyo, okufaneleyo lokuqondileyo;
4 They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha, ulwazi lokukhetha okuqondileyo kwabatsha
5 Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe, kuthi obonisisayo azuze izeluleko,
6 understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso, izitsho lamalibho abahlakaniphileyo.
7 Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, kodwa iziwula ziyakweyisa ukuqedisisa lokuzithiba.
8 My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo njalo ungadeli imfundiso kanyoko.
9 They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho lomgaxo wokucecisa intamo yakho.
10 My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga, ungaze wavuma.
11 They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe; kasicathamele abantu sichithe igazi, kasicwathele omunye umuntu ongelacala;
kasibaginye bephila njengengcwaba, sibajwamule njengabawele emgodini; (Sheol h7585)
13 We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango;
14 Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
phathisana lathi ukuze sibelesikhwama sinye”
15 My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo, ungalugxobi olwakho ezindleleni zazo;
16 For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni, bachitha igazi lula.
17 There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule lithe dandalazi emehlweni ezinyoni!
18 However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi; bajuma okwabo ukuphila.
19 This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.
20 Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni, kuphakamisa ilizwi lakho ezinkundleni;
21 She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona, kuyatshumayela emasangweni omuzi kuthi:
22 “How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?
“Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na? Koze kube nini izideleli zikholisa ukudelela leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi na?
23 Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke! Ngizalivulela isifuba sami, ngilivezele imicabango yami.
24 For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza, kwangabi khona onginanzayo ngiselula isandla sami,
25 You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
njengoba lala izeluleko zami njalo kalavuma ukukhuza kwami,
26 So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka; ngizaliklolodela nxa lisehlelwa lusizi,
27 When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you,
nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho; nxa incithakalo ilikhukhula njengesivunguzane, nxa usizi lezinhlupheko ziligabhela.
28 then you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me.
Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidinga bangangitholi.
29 Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi kabaze bakhetha ukwesaba uThixo
30 They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami, badelela ukukhuza kwami,
31 So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo basuthiswe ngezithelo zamacebo abo.
32 Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala, lokungananzi kweziphukuphuku kuzazibhubhisa;
33 But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile, engesabi lutho olungamlimaza.”
