Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
