Proverbs 2
1 My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
Ndodana yami, nxa usamukela amazwi ami ugcine imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho,
2 Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
uvule indlebe yakho izwe ukuhlakanipha unikele inhliziyo yakho ukuthi izwisise,
3 Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
njalo nxa ucela ukuqedisisa ukhalela kakhulu ukuzwisisa,
4 Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
futhi ukudingisisa njengokudinga isiliva ukuphenye njengento eligugu efihliweyo,
5 If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
lapho-ke uzakuzwisisa ukumesaba uThixo njalo uluzuze ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu.
6 Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
Ngoba uThixo uyapha ukuhlakanipha, emlonyeni wakhe kuphuma ulwazi lokuqedisisa.
7 He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
Abaqotho ubapha ukunqoba, ulihawu lalabo abahamba bengasoleki,
8 He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
ngoba uyayilinda indlela yabalungileyo avikele ukuhamba kwabathembekileyo bakhe.
9 [If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
Yikho uzazwisisa lokho okulungileyo lokuqondileyo lokufaneleyo zonke izindlela ezinhle.
10 because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
Ngoba ukuhlakanipha kuzangena enhliziyweni yakho, lolwazi lube mnandi emphefumulweni wakho.
11 If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
Ukwazi ukukhetha kuzakuvikela, lokuzwisisa kuzakulinda.
12 If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
Ukuhlakanipha kuzakusindisa ezindleleni zabantu ababi, abantu abamazwi abolileyo,
13 Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
abatshiya izindlela eziqondileyo, bahambe ngezindlela ezilamathunzi,
14 They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
abathokoza ngokwenza okubi bajabule ngokungcola kokubi,
15 They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
abandlela zabo zitshekile lokuhamba kwabo kakuqondakali.
16 If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
Kuzakukhulula njalo koyisiphingikazi, lasemfazini olamazwi akhohlisayo,
17 Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
osetshiye indoda yakhe yobutsha bakhe wadela isifungo asenza phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
18 If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
Ngoba indlu yakhe iholela ekufeni lezindlela zakhe zidonsela kwabafileyo.
19 No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
Kakho ongena kuye obuyayo kumbe aphinde azuze izindlela zokuphila.
20 If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
Ngakho uzahamba ezindleleni zabantu abalungileyo walele emikhondweni yabaqondileyo.
21 because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
Ngoba abaqotho bazahlala elizweni, labangasolekiyo bazasala kulo;
22 Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
kodwa izigangi zizasuswa elizweni, labangathembekanga bazakhutshwa kulo.
