Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they increase unto thee.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind them about thy throat; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the eyes of God and man.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Trust in the Lord with all thy heart: and upon thy own understanding do not rely.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make level thy paths.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Be not wise in thy own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
It will be healing to thy body, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honor the Lord with thy wealth, and with the first-fruits of all thy products:
10 ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and with new wine shall thy presses overflow.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
The correction of the Lord, my son, do not despise; and feel no loathing for his admonition;
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
Because whomever the Lord loveth he admonisheth; and as a father who delighteth in [his] son.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and the man that acquireth understanding.
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For the obtaining of her is better than the obtaining of silver, and better than fine gold is her product.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than pearls; and all the things thou valuest 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 are riches and honor.
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.
A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her: and every one that firmly graspeth her will be made happy.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth: he hath established the heavens through understanding.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge were the depths split open, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
My son, let them not be removed from thy eyes; keep [before thee] sound wisdom and discretion:
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy throat.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and thy foot will not strike [against aught]:
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel no dread; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall be pleasant.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Thou needest not to be afraid of sudden dread, neither of the [unlooked-for] tempest over the wicked, when it cometh.
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will guard thy foot from being caught.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserving it, 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 neighbor, Go, and return, and tomorrow will I give: when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, when he dwelleth in safety with thee.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Quarrel not with any 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 froward is an abomination to the Lord; but with the upright is his good-will.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but the habitation of the righteous will he bless.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
If [it concern] the scornful he will himself render them a scorn; but unto the lowly doth he give grace.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory; but fools shall obtain disgrace as their portion.
