Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and the poor meet together. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
