Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments:
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding 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 to thy own understanding.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct 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 shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits 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 presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it 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 to be compared to 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 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 every one that retaineth her.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
My son, let not them depart from thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, 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 desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall 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 to 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 hath done thee no harm.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Envy thou 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 an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace to the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
