Proverbs 22
1 A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
6 Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Have not I written for thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 That I might make thee know rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither crush the afflicted in the gate;
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If thou have nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have established.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
