Proverbs 4
1 Listen to O children [the] correction of a father and be attentive to know understanding.
Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
2 For instruction good I give to you instruction my may not you neglect.
Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
3 If a son I was of father my tender and only [child] before mother my.
Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
4 And he taught me and he said to me let it hold fast to words my heart your keep commandments my and live.
wangifundisa ubaba wathi, “Abambe amazwi ami ngenhliziyo yakho yonke; gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile.
5 Acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my.
Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqedisisa; ungawakhohlwa amazwi ami, kumbe ugudluke kuwo.
6 May not you abandon her and she will keep you love her and she will guard you.
Ungafulatheli ukuhlakanipha, kuzakuvikela; kuthande, kuzakulinda.
7 [is] first Wisdom acquire wisdom and by all acquisition your acquire understanding.
Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
8 Esteem her and she will exalt you she will honor you if you will embrace her.
Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
9 She will put to head your a wreath of grace a crown of beauty she will give you.
Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
10 Listen O son my and receive words my so they may increase for you years of life.
Zwana mntanami, yamukela lokho engikutshoyo, ukuze insuku zokuphila kwakho zibe zinengi.
11 [the] way of Wisdom I taught you I led you in tracks of uprightness.
Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
12 When walking you not anyone will hinder step[s] your and if you will run not you will stumble.
Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Take hold on discipline may not you let go keep her for she [is] life your.
Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
14 In [the] path of wicked [people] may not you go and may not you advance in [the] way of evil [people].
Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
15 Avoid it may not you pass along on it turn aside from on it and pass on.
Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
16 For not they will sleep if not they do harm and it is taken away sleep their if not (they bring injury. *Q(K)*)
Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
17 For they eat [the] bread of wickedness and [the] wine of violence they drink.
Badla isinkwa sobubi banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 And [the] path of righteous [people] [is] like a light of brightness [which] goes and [which] shines until [the] established [part] of the day.
Indlela yabalungileyo injengovivi lokusa, kukhule ukukhanya kwalo kuze kuphelele emini.
19 [the] way of Wicked [people] [is] like darkness not they know on what? are they stumbling.
Kodwa indlela yababi ifana lomnyama omkhulu; kabazi ukuthi kuyini okubakhubayo.
20 O son my to words my be attentive! to utterances my incline ear your.
Ndodana yami, zwana lokhu engikutshoyo; lalelisisa amazwi ami.
21 Do not let them depart from eyes your keep them in [the] midst of heart your.
Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
22 For [are] life they to [those who] find them and to all flesh his health.
ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
23 More than all guarding guard heart your for [are] from it [the] sources of life.
Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
24 Remove from yourself crookedness of mouth and deviousness of lips put far away from yourself.
Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
25 Eyes your before let them look and eyelids your let them look straight before you.
Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
26 Make level [the] track of foot your and all ways your let them be steadfast.
Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
27 May not you turn aside right and left turn aside foot your from evil.
Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
