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 poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are 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 does keep 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 when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
He that 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 scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The slothful man says, 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 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 that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?
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 the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
