Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you:
Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite.
ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
4 Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.
Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
6 Eat you not the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire you his dainty meats:
Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to you; but his heart is not with you.
ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
8 The morsel which you have eaten shall you vomit up, and lose your sweet words.
Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Mjezise ngoswazi ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
16 Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.
ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
18 For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off.
Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
19 Hear you, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way.
Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
22 Listen to your father that begat you, and despise not your mother when she is old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begets a wise child shall have joy of him.
Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
25 Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she that bore you shall rejoice.
Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
28 She also lies in wait as for a prey, and increases the transgressors among men.
Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
29 Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? who has babbling? who has wounds without cause? who has redness of eyes?
Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
31 Look not you on the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
33 Your eyes shall behold strange women, and your heart shall utter perverse things.
Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
34 Yes, you shall be as he that lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he that lies on the top of a mast.
Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 They have stricken me, shall you say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
