Izaga 24
1 Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 Nxa usithi, “Angithi besingazi lutho ngalokhu,” kambe lowo ohlola inhliziyo kakuboni lokho na? Kakwazi lokho yini onguye olinda ukuphila kwakho na? Akayikuvuza ubani lobani ngakwenzileyo na?
But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
13 Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
24 Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
25 Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
28 Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
