Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it; ] and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
