Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; 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 increaseth strength.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy 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 openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
8 He that deviseth 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] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
11 If thou 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 thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [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 thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
14 So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy 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] falleth seven times, and riseth 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 thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
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 thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou 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 thou 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 knoweth 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 saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor 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 giveth a right answer.
Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath 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 thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
