Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
5 A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
Nxa usithi, “Angithi besingazi lutho ngalokhu,” kambe lowo ohlola inhliziyo kakuboni lokho na? Kakwazi lokho yini onguye olinda ukuphila kwakho na? Akayikuvuza ubani lobani ngakwenzileyo na?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
