Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall 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 firstfruits 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 presses shall burst out 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 be weary of 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] getteth 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; [and] in her left hand 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 retaineth her.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds 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 safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
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 fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine 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 oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.
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 just.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
