Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
10 ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
16 Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17 Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
18 Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
21 Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
28 Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
32 ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
