Proverbs 22
1 A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favor is above silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honor; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonors all.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonor the helpless [man] in the gates.
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
