Izaga 31
1 Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
7 kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 “Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
