Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Wena uzamtshaya ngoswazi, ukhulule umphefumulo wakhe esihogweni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
20 Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
