Izaga 24
1 Ungabahawukeli abantu abaxhwalileyo, ungafisi ubungane labo;
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 ngoba ezingqondweni zabo bahlose udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma ngokuvusa umsindo.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Indlu yakhiwa ngokuhlakanipha, imiswe ngokuzwisisa;
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 amakamelo ayo agcwaliswe ngolwazi, agcwaliswe ngemiceciso yakude eligugu.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla amakhulu, njalo umuntu ololwazi uyandisa amandla;
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 ukuthi unqobe empini kufunakala izeluleko, lokunqoba kudinga abeluleki abanengi.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuphakeme kakhulu koyisiwula; enkundleni kalalutho angalukhuluma.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 Lowo oceba ububi uzakwaziwa njengomacebomabi.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Amacebo obuwula ayisono, njalo abantu bayasizonda isideleli.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Nxa uthikaza ngezikhathi zenhlupheko, mancinyane kanganani amandla akho!
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Bahlangule labo abaholelwa ekufeni; banqande labo abadayizela besiya ekubulaweni.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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 say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Dlana uluju ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile; uluju olujuluka ekhekhebeni lumnandi luyanambitheka.
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 Yazi njalo ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kumnandi emphefumulweni wakho, aluba ukuzuza ikusasa lakho lilethemba elihle, njalo ithemba lakho aliyikudaniswa.
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Ungacathameli indlu yomuntu olungileyo njengesigebenga, ungawuhlaseli umuzi wakhe;
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 ngoba loba angaze awe kasikhombisa umuntu olungileyo uyavuka futhi, kodwa ababi babhazalaliswa yizinhlupheko.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Ungathatshiswa yikuwa kwesitha sakho; nxa sikhubeka ungavumeli inhliziyo yakho ithokoze,
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
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,
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 ngoba umuntu omubi akalalo ithemba lakusasa, njalo isibane sezixhwali sizacinywa.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Yesaba uThixo lombusi, ndodana yami, ungangenelani labahlamuki,
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 ngoba laba bobabili bazakwehlisa ulaka lubabhubhise, ngoba phela ngubani kambe okwaziyo ukubhubhisa abangakwehlisa?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 La ngamanye amazwi ezihlakaniphi: Ukwahlulela ngobandlululo kakulunganga:
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
24 Loba ngubani othi kolecala, “Umsulwa,” abantu bonke bazamqalekisa lezizwe zonke zizamhlamukela.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 Kodwa kuzabalungela labo abamlahlayo olecala, lezibusiso ezinengi zizabehlela.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Impendulo eqotho injengokwangiwa ezindebeni.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Qeda umsebenzi wakho waphandle ulungise lamasimu akho; kuthi-ke usuqedile wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Ungafakazi ngokubethela umakhelwane kungelamlandu, kumbe usebenzise izindebe zakho ukhohlisa.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Ungabokuthi, “Ngizakwenza kuye njengoba enze kimi; ngizahlawulisa ngalokho angenze khona.”
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevilavoxo, ngedlula esivinini somuntu ongelangqondo;
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 ameva ayesekhula indawo yonke, indawo yonke isithe phethu ukhula, lomduli wamatshe usudilikile.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Ngakunanzelela konke engangikubona ngafunda isifundo kulokho engakubonayo:
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Ukulala okuncane, ukuwozela okuncane, ukugoqa izandla kancane uphumula,
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 ubuyanga buzafika kuwe njengesela lokuswela njengesigebenga.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
