Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 [I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 [Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 [I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
