Izaga 2
1 Ndodana yami, nxa usamukela amazwi ami ugcine imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,
2 uvule indlebe yakho izwe ukuhlakanipha unikele inhliziyo yakho ukuthi izwisise,
That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:
3 njalo nxa ucela ukuqedisisa ukhalela kakhulu ukuzwisisa,
For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:
4 futhi ukudingisisa njengokudinga isiliva ukuphenye njengento eligugu efihliweyo,
If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:
5 lapho-ke uzakuzwisisa ukumesaba uThixo njalo uluzuze ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu.
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.
6 Ngoba uThixo uyapha ukuhlakanipha, emlonyeni wakhe kuphuma ulwazi lokuqedisisa.
Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
7 Abaqotho ubapha ukunqoba, ulihawu lalabo abahamba bengasoleki,
He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity.
8 ngoba uyayilinda indlela yabalungileyo avikele ukuhamba kwabathembekileyo bakhe.
Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.
9 Yikho uzazwisisa lokho okulungileyo lokuqondileyo lokufaneleyo zonke izindlela ezinhle.
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 Ngoba ukuhlakanipha kuzangena enhliziyweni yakho, lolwazi lube mnandi emphefumulweni wakho.
If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
11 Ukwazi ukukhetha kuzakuvikela, lokuzwisisa kuzakulinda.
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
12 Ukuhlakanipha kuzakusindisa ezindleleni zabantu ababi, abantu abamazwi abolileyo,
That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:
13 abatshiya izindlela eziqondileyo, bahambe ngezindlela ezilamathunzi,
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
14 abathokoza ngokwenza okubi bajabule ngokungcola kokubi,
Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things:
15 abandlela zabo zitshekile lokuhamba kwabo kakuqondakali.
Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
16 Kuzakukhulula njalo koyisiphingikazi, lasemfazini olamazwi akhohlisayo,
That thou mayst be delivered from the strange women, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words:
17 osetshiye indoda yakhe yobutsha bakhe wadela isifungo asenza phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
And forsaketh the guide of her youth,
18 Ngoba indlu yakhe iholela ekufeni lezindlela zakhe zidonsela kwabafileyo.
And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. (questioned)
19 Kakho ongena kuye obuyayo kumbe aphinde azuze izindlela zokuphila.
None that go in unto her shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life,
20 Ngakho uzahamba ezindleleni zabantu abalungileyo walele emikhondweni yabaqondileyo.
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
21 Ngoba abaqotho bazahlala elizweni, labangasolekiyo bazasala kulo;
For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it.
22 kodwa izigangi zizasuswa elizweni, labangathembekanga bazakhutshwa kulo.
But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly shall be taken away from it.
