Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, madodana ami, izeluleko zikayihlo; lalelani lizuze ukuqedisisa.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Ngilipha izifundo ezipheleleyo; ngakho lingalahli imfundiso yami.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Ngathi ngisengumfana emzini kababa, ngisebuthakathaka, ngiyimi ngedwa ingane kamama,
For, a son I have been 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 directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy 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.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Ukuhlakanipha kuyinqaba; ngakho zuza ukuhlakanipha. Zuza ukuqedisisa loba kungathatha konke olakho.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Kugogose, kuzakuphakamisa; kugone, kuzakunika udumo.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Kuzakwethesa umqhele wamaluba omusa ekhanda lakho kukwethese umqhele wenkazimulo.”
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee 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 thee.
11 Ngiyakukhokhela endleleni yokuhlakanipha, ngikuqondise ezindleleni eziqondileyo.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Nxa uhamba kawuyikuthikaza; nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Bambelela iziqondiso, ungayekethisi; zigcine kuhle ngoba ziyikuphila kwakho.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Ungayingeni indlela yababi njalo ungahambi endleleni yezigangi.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Ixwaye, ungahambi ngayo; itshiye uqhubeke ngeyakho indlela.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Phela kabalali bengenzanga ukuganga; badela ubuthongo ukuze baqale balimaze omunye umuntu.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Badla isinkwa sobubi banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
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 till 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, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Ungawasusi emehlweni akho, agcine enhliziyweni yakho;
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 ngoba ayikuphila kulabo abawafumanayo; lokuqina komzimba wonke womuntu.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngoba ingumthombo wokuphila kwakho.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Lahla izibozi zamazwi emlonyeni wakho; ungakhuphi inkulumo yokuxhwala ezindebeni zakho.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Khangelisa amehlo akho nta phambili, uwathi nhlo amehlo akho kulokho okuphambi kwakho.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Lungisa izindlela ukuze inyawo zakho zinyathele kuhle, uhambe ngezindlela eziqinileyo kuphela.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Ungaphambukeli kwesokunene loba kwesokhohlo; ugcine unyawo lwakho lunganyatheli okubi.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
