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 precepts!
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success In the sight of God and man.
5 Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, And lean not on thine own understanding;
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
It shall be health to thy muscles, And moisture to thy bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honor the LORD with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy 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 overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with 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, 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 of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds 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.
For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then shalt thou go on 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, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Withhold not kindness from those who need 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 to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.
32 ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
For the perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.
