Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
