Proverbs 8
1 Doth not wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice?
Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
2 In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of men.
Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
5 O ye simple, understand subtilty; and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
7 For my mouth shall utter truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto her.
Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
12 I wisdom have made subtilty my dwelling, and find out knowledge [and] discretion.
Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.
Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me diligently shall find me.
Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
18 Riches and honour are with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness.
Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there: when he set a circle upon the face of the deep:
Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
28 When he made firm the sides above: when the fountains of the deep became strong:
lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
29 When he gave to the sea its bound, that the waters should not transgress his commandment: when he marked out the foundations of the earth:
lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
30 Then I was by him, [as] a master workman: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;
khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; and my delight was with the sons of men.
ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
32 Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
