Proverbs 3
1 My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth and honor.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
