Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12 Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29 Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
