Izaga 31
1 Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 “Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, 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 works praise her in the gates.
