Proverbs 4
1 My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
2 What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
3 When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
4 my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
5 Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
6 Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
7 The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
9 If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
10 [So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
11 I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
12 If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
14 Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
15 Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
16 because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
17 What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
19 [But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
21 Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
22 because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
23 It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
24 Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
25 Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
26 Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
27 Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
