Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD is the maker of them all.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even riches, and honour, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; let them be established altogether upon thy lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
