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 poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] 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 doth keep his soul shall be 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 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 anger 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 shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of 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 knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The slothful [man] 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 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 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches, and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine 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; they shall withal be fitted in 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 known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in 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 answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious 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 not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If thou hast nothing 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.
