Izaga 31
1 Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
2 Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
3 ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
4 Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
5 funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
6 Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
7 kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
8 Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
9 Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
11 Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
12 Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
13 Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
14 Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
15 Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
16 Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
20 Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
21 Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
23 Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
24 Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
25 Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
26 Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
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 virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
30 Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed 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.
