Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove 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, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy 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 thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Have not I written for 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 rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither crush the afflicted in the gate;
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
If thou have 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 established.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
