Izaga 24
1 Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
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?
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13 Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14 Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21 Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
