Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 wangifundisa ubaba wathi, “Abambe amazwi ami ngenhliziyo yakho yonke; gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqedisisa; ungawakhohlwa amazwi ami, kumbe ugudluke kuwo.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Ungafulatheli ukuhlakanipha, kuzakuvikela; kuthande, kuzakulinda.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Zwana mntanami, yamukela lokho engikutshoyo, ukuze insuku zokuphila kwakho zibe zinengi.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Badla isinkwa sobubi banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Indlela yabalungileyo injengovivi lokusa, kukhule ukukhanya kwalo kuze kuphelele emini.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Kodwa indlela yababi ifana lomnyama omkhulu; kabazi ukuthi kuyini okubakhubayo.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, zwana lokhu engikutshoyo; lalelisisa amazwi ami.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
