Izaga 31
1 Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
3 ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
5 funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6 Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
8 Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9 Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10 Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14 Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
15 Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16 Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
19 Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
21 Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23 Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
26 Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 “Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
30 Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
31 Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
