Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
2 ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
3 Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
5 Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
7 ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
8 Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
9 Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
10 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
12 Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
13 Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For you shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
16 ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
19 Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
20 Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
23 Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24 Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
26 Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
[My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
29 Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
