Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
16 Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
