Proverbs 31
1 THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for Kings to drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
