Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold—good grace.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
Rich and poor have met together, YHWH [is] the Maker of them all.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
The prudent has seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The end of humility [is] the fear of YHWH, riches, and honor, and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoever is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he does not turn from it.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich rules over the poor, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
Whoever is sowing perverseness reaps sorrow, And the rod of his anger wears out.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
The good of eye—he is blessed, For he has given of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out a scorner—and contention goes out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, His lips [are] grace, A king [is] his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of YHWH have kept knowledge, And He overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The slothful has said, “A lion [is] outside, I am slain in the midst of the broad places.”
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit, The abhorred of YHWH falls there.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of discipline puts it far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
He [who] is oppressing the poor to multiply his [riches], Is giving to the rich—only to want.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Incline your ear, and hear words of the wise, And set your heart to my knowledge,
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For they are pleasant when you keep them in your heart, They are prepared together for your lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That your trust may be in YHWH, I caused you to know today, even you.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Have I not written to you three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
To cause you to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending you.
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Do not rob the poor because he [is] poor, And do not bruise the afflicted in the gate.
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For YHWH pleads their cause, And has spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Do not show yourself friendly with an angry man, And do not go in with a man of fury,
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
Lest you learn his paths, And have received a snare to your soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Do not be among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If you have nothing to pay, Why does he take your bed from under you?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Do not remove a border of ancient times, That your fathers have made.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
Have you seen a man speedy in his business? He stations himself before kings, He does not station himself before obscure men!
