Izaga 24

1 Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2 ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4 amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;

A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

7 Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.

Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9 Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.

The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.

10 Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!

[If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

11 Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.

If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;

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 thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?

13 Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.

My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

14 Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.

So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;

Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16 ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.

For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 ngoba uThixo uzakubona lokho asole abesepholisa ulaka lwakhe kuso isitha.

Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabantu ababi loba ubahawukele abaxhwalileyo,

Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.

For there shall be no reward to the evil [man; ] the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:

These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.

But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.

[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.

29 Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:

Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction.

33 Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,

[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.

So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.