Proverbs 4
1 Listen to O children [the] correction of a father and be attentive to know understanding.
Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
2 For instruction good I give to you instruction my may not you neglect.
Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
3 If a son I was of father my tender and only [child] before mother my.
Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
4 And he taught me and he said to me let it hold fast to words my heart your keep commandments my and live.
Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
5 Acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my.
Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
6 May not you abandon her and she will keep you love her and she will guard you.
Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
7 [is] first Wisdom acquire wisdom and by all acquisition your acquire understanding.
Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 Esteem her and she will exalt you she will honor you if you will embrace her.
Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
9 She will put to head your a wreath of grace a crown of beauty she will give you.
Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
10 Listen O son my and receive words my so they may increase for you years of life.
Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
11 [the] way of Wisdom I taught you I led you in tracks of uprightness.
Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
12 When walking you not anyone will hinder step[s] your and if you will run not you will stumble.
Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Take hold on discipline may not you let go keep her for she [is] life your.
Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
14 In [the] path of wicked [people] may not you go and may not you advance in [the] way of evil [people].
Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
15 Avoid it may not you pass along on it turn aside from on it and pass on.
Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
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)*)
Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
17 For they eat [the] bread of wickedness and [the] wine of violence they drink.
Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, 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.
Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
19 [the] way of Wicked [people] [is] like darkness not they know on what? are they stumbling.
Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
20 O son my to words my be attentive! to utterances my incline ear your.
Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
21 Do not let them depart from eyes your keep them in [the] midst of heart your.
Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
22 For [are] life they to [those who] find them and to all flesh his health.
Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
23 More than all guarding guard heart your for [are] from it [the] sources of life.
Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
24 Remove from yourself crookedness of mouth and deviousness of lips put far away from yourself.
Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
25 Eyes your before let them look and eyelids your let them look straight before you.
Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
26 Make level [the] track of foot your and all ways your let them be steadfast.
Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
27 May not you turn aside right and left turn aside foot your from evil.
Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
