Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 wangifundisa ubaba wathi, “Abambe amazwi ami ngenhliziyo yakho yonke; gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqedisisa; ungawakhohlwa amazwi ami, kumbe ugudluke kuwo.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Ungafulatheli ukuhlakanipha, kuzakuvikela; kuthande, kuzakulinda.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Zwana mntanami, yamukela lokho engikutshoyo, ukuze insuku zokuphila kwakho zibe zinengi.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 Badla isinkwa sobubi banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 Indlela yabalungileyo injengovivi lokusa, kukhule ukukhanya kwalo kuze kuphelele emini.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 Kodwa indlela yababi ifana lomnyama omkhulu; kabazi ukuthi kuyini okubakhubayo.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, zwana lokhu engikutshoyo; lalelisisa amazwi ami.
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
