Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.
16 Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.
