Proverbs 8
1 Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
2 On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
3 Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
4 “It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
5 You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
6 Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
7 For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
8 All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
9 All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
10 Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
11 For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
12 I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
17 I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
21 As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
23 In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
24 Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
25 Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
26 I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
28 I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
29 I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
30 I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
31 I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
32 Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
34 The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
36 But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
