Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
