Izaga 1
1 Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba; ukuba bazwisise amazwi okuqedisisa;
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3 ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho, besenza okulungileyo, okufaneleyo lokuqondileyo;
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha, ulwazi lokukhetha okuqondileyo kwabatsha
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5 ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe, kuthi obonisisayo azuze izeluleko,
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6 ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso, izitsho lamalibho abahlakaniphileyo.
to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, kodwa iziwula ziyakweyisa ukuqedisisa lokuzithiba.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo njalo ungadeli imfundiso kanyoko.
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho lomgaxo wokucecisa intamo yakho.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10 Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga, ungaze wavuma.
My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
11 Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe; kasicathamele abantu sichithe igazi, kasicwathele omunye umuntu ongelacala;
If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango;
We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 phathisana lathi ukuze sibelesikhwama sinye”
You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
15 ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo, ungalugxobi olwakho ezindleleni zazo;
my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni, bachitha igazi lula.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule lithe dandalazi emehlweni ezinyoni!
For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18 Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi; bajuma okwabo ukuphila.
but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni, kuphakamisa ilizwi lakho ezinkundleni;
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona, kuyatshumayela emasangweni omuzi kuthi:
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na? Koze kube nini izideleli zikholisa ukudelela leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi na?
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke! Ngizalivulela isifuba sami, ngilivezele imicabango yami.
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza, kwangabi khona onginanzayo ngiselula isandla sami,
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 njengoba lala izeluleko zami njalo kalavuma ukukhuza kwami,
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka; ngizaliklolodela nxa lisehlelwa lusizi,
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho; nxa incithakalo ilikhukhula njengesivunguzane, nxa usizi lezinhlupheko ziligabhela.
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidinga bangangitholi.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi kabaze bakhetha ukwesaba uThixo
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
30 ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami, badelela ukukhuza kwami,
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo basuthiswe ngezithelo zamacebo abo.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala, lokungananzi kweziphukuphuku kuzazibhubhisa;
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile, engesabi lutho olungamlimaza.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
