Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
10 ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
16 Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
