Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your 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 add to you.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all your ways remember him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honor Jehovah with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
so your storehouses will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, do not despise the discipline of Jehovah, nor resent his correction.
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
For whom Jehovah loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, and those who hold on to her are blessed
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
By wisdom Jehovah founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge, the depths 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 your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then you shall walk in your way securely, and your foot won't stumble.
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, or of the storm of the wicked when it comes:
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
for Jehovah will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Do not envy the man of violence. 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 friendship is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
Jehovah's curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely he is scornful to scoffers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
