Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
2 For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
3 For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
4 And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
6 Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
9 She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
11 I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
12 In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
15 Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
16 For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
20 My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
21 Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
22 For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
23 Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
24 Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
25 Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
27 Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
