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 favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and poor meet together; Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] 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 unto 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: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That thy confidence 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 not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
if thou hast nothing 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.
Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.
