Proverbs 3
1 My sonne, forget not thou my Lawe, but let thine heart keepe my commandements.
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For they shall increase the length of thy dayes and the yeeres of life, and thy prosperitie.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Let not mercie and trueth forsake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 So shalt thou finde fauour and good vnderstanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not vnto thine owne wisdome.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy wayes.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Be not wise in thine owne eyes: but feare the Lord, and depart from euill.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 So health shalbe vnto thy nauel, and marowe vnto thy bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase.
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 So shall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with newe wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My sonne, refuse not the chastening of the Lord, neither be grieued with his correction.
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For the Lord correcteth him, whome he loueth, euen as the father doeth the childe in whom he deliteth.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome, and the man that getteth vnderstanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then golde.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 It is more precious then pearles: and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vnto her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her wayes are wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes prosperitie.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay holde on her, and blessed is he that retaineth her.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 The Lord by wisdome hath layde the foundation of the earth, and hath stablished the heauens through vnderstanding.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge the depthes are broken vp, and the cloudes droppe downe the dewe.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My sonne, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but obserue wisdome, and counsell.
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 So they shalbe life to thy soule, and grace vnto thy necke.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then shalt thou walke safely by thy way: and thy foote shall not stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 If thou sleepest, thou shalt not bee afraide, and when thou sleepest, thy sleepe shalbe sweete.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Thou shalt not feare for any sudden feare, neither for the destruction of the wicked, when it commeth.
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For the Lord shall be for thine assurance, and shall preserue thy foote from taking.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Withhold not the good from the owners thereof, though there be power in thine hand to doe it.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Say not vnto thy neighbour, Go and come againe, and to morow wil I giue thee, if thou now haue it.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 With the scornefull he scorneth, but hee giueth grace vnto the humble.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherite glorie: but fooles dishonour, though they be exalted.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
