Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thine ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply thine heart,
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
that thou mayest know that they are good: and if thou lay them to heart, they shall also gladden thee on thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy hope may be in the Lord, and he may make thy way known to thee.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
I therefore teach thee truth, and knowledge good to hear; that thou mayest answer words of truth to them that question thee.
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and thou shalt deliver thy soul in safety.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
lest thou learn of his ways, and get snares to thy soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under thee.
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Remove not the old landmarks, which thy fathers placed.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
