Proverbs 22
1 A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
2 Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
3 The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
4 The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
5 Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
8 Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
9 The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
10 Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
11 Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
12 The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
14 A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
16 He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
18 For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
20 Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
21 To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
22 Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
23 For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
24 Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
25 Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
26 Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
28 Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
29 Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
