< Izaga 23 >

1 Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
2 ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
and put a knife to your throat if you are a person who likes to eat a lot of food.
3 Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
Do not crave his delicacies, for it is the food of lies.
4 Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
Do not work too hard to gain wealth; be wise enough to know when to stop.
5 Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
Will you let your eyes light upon it? It will be gone, for it will surely take up wings like an eagle and fly off to the sky.
6 Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye— and do not crave his delicacies,
7 ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
for he is the kind of man who counts the price of the food. “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 the little you have eaten and you will have wasted your compliments.
9 Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Do not speak in the hearing of 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 orphans,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
for their Redeemer is strong and he will plead 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 instruction from a child, for if you discipline him, he will not die.
14 Mjezise ngoswazi ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni. (Sheol h7585)
It is you who must beat him with the rod and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
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 continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day.
18 Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
Hear—you!—my son, and be wise and direct your heart in the way.
20 Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
Do not associate with drunkards, or with gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
for the drunkard and the glutton become poor and slumber will clothe them with rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
Listen to your father who begot you and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
Buy the truth, but do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
The father of the righteous person will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will be glad in him.
25 Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
Let your father and your mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice.
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 prostitute is a deep pit, and an immoral woman is a narrow well.
28 Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
She lies in wait like a robber and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity.
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 fights? Who has complaining? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
Those who linger over wine, those who try the mixed wine.
31 Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
In the last it bites like a serpent and it stings like an adder.
33 Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
Your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter perverse things.
34 Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
You will be as one who sleeps on the high seas or lies on the top of a mast.
35 Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
“They hit me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not feel it. When will I wake up? I will seek another drink.”

< Izaga 23 >