Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honor, and life.
Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
17 Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
