Proverbs 31
1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
