Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
