Proverbs 3
1 My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honor.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
