Izaga 1
1 Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba; ukuba bazwisise amazwi okuqedisisa;
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho, besenza okulungileyo, okufaneleyo lokuqondileyo;
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha, ulwazi lokukhetha okuqondileyo kwabatsha
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe, kuthi obonisisayo azuze izeluleko,
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso, izitsho lamalibho abahlakaniphileyo.
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, kodwa iziwula ziyakweyisa ukuqedisisa lokuzithiba.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo njalo ungadeli imfundiso kanyoko.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho lomgaxo wokucecisa intamo yakho.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga, ungaze wavuma.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe; kasicathamele abantu sichithe igazi, kasicwathele omunye umuntu ongelacala;
If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango;
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 phathisana lathi ukuze sibelesikhwama sinye”
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo, ungalugxobi olwakho ezindleleni zazo;
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni, bachitha igazi lula.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule lithe dandalazi emehlweni ezinyoni!
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi; bajuma okwabo ukuphila.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni, kuphakamisa ilizwi lakho ezinkundleni;
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona, kuyatshumayela emasangweni omuzi kuthi:
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 “Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na? Koze kube nini izideleli zikholisa ukudelela leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi na?
“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
23 Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke! Ngizalivulela isifuba sami, ngilivezele imicabango yami.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza, kwangabi khona onginanzayo ngiselula isandla sami,
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 njengoba lala izeluleko zami njalo kalavuma ukukhuza kwami,
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka; ngizaliklolodela nxa lisehlelwa lusizi,
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho; nxa incithakalo ilikhukhula njengesivunguzane, nxa usizi lezinhlupheko ziligabhela.
When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidinga bangangitholi.
then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi kabaze bakhetha ukwesaba uThixo
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami, badelela ukukhuza kwami,
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo basuthiswe ngezithelo zamacebo abo.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala, lokungananzi kweziphukuphuku kuzazibhubhisa;
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile, engesabi lutho olungamlimaza.”
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
