Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 wangifundisa ubaba wathi, “Abambe amazwi ami ngenhliziyo yakho yonke; gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile.
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Zuza ukuhlakanipha, zuza ukuqedisisa; ungawakhohlwa amazwi ami, kumbe ugudluke kuwo.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Ungafulatheli ukuhlakanipha, kuzakuvikela; kuthande, kuzakulinda.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
9 Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
10 Zwana mntanami, yamukela lokho engikutshoyo, ukuze insuku zokuphila kwakho zibe zinengi.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless 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.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Kodwa indlela yababi ifana lomnyama omkhulu; kabazi ukuthi kuyini okubakhubayo.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Ndodana yami, zwana lokhu engikutshoyo; lalelisisa amazwi ami.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the centre of your heart.
22 ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
