Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is wealth, honor, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 The eyes of Jehovah watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under Jehovah's wrath will fall into it.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That your trust may be in Jehovah, I teach you today, even you.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 for Jehovah will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
