Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
