Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and 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 the lender.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
