Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and the poor meet together — the LORD 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 thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The reward of humility is the fear of the LORD, even 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 froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself 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 ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
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 go out; yea, strife and shame will cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He that loveth pureness of heart, that hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the LORD preserve him that hath knowledge, but He overthroweth the words of the faithless man.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.'
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
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.
One may oppress the poor, yet will their gain increase; one may give to the rich, yet will want come.
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; let them be established altogether upon thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of 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 bring back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Rob not the weak, because he is weak, neither crush the poor in the gate;
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Be thou not of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts;
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If thou hast 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
