Izaga 31
1 Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 “Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
