Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
Don’t 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 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 your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, 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;
Honour the LORD 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 barns 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, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
Happy 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 honour.
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. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
By wisdom the LORD 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. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
Don’t 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.
Don’t say to your neighbour, “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.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbour, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
Don’t 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 the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
The LORD’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 mocks the mockers, 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.
