Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to thee.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 So shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil;
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither spurn thou His correction;
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdest her fast.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Withhold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour: 'Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give'; when thou hast it by thee.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright.
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 If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
