Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 “What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 [ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She has done him good, and not evil, All [the] days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She has sought wool and flax, And with delight she works [with] her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 “The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
