Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
2 Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7 Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17 Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
