Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, 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 perverse, —he that guardeth his soul, shall be far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train up a youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh old, he will not depart from it.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
The rich, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Foolishness, is bound up in the heart of a youth, 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 make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties for debts:
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should one take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s made.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
