Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
