Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw 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.
Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.
