Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all your ways remember him, and he will make your paths straight.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear YHWH, and depart from evil.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honor YHWH with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My son, do not despise the discipline of YHWH, nor resent his correction.
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom YHWH loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are blessed
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 By wisdom YHWH founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, or of the storm of the wicked when it comes:
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 for YHWH will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to YHWH, but his friendship is with the upright.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 YHWH's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
