Proverbs 31
1 The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She doeth him good and not evil, all the days of her life:
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
