Proverbs 24
1 Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
2 For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.
Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
8 He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
11 If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
12 If you say, Behold, we knew it not; does not he that ponders the heart consider it? and he that keeps your soul, does not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Nxa usithi, “Angithi besingazi lutho ngalokhu,” kambe lowo ohlola inhliziyo kakuboni lokho na? Kakwazi lokho yini onguye olinda ukuphila kwakho na? Akayikuvuza ubani lobani ngakwenzileyo na?
13 My son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.
Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
16 For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
19 Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
21 My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
24 He that says unto the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall detest him:
Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
27 Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.
Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbour without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
34 So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your lack as an armed man.
ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
