Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “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 morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
for their Defender is strong. 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 the words of knowledge.
13 Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish 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 will be glad, even mine.
16 ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, 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 keep your heart on the right path!
20 Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
Let your father and your mother be glad! 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 keep in my ways.
27 ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
