Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
The shrewd see danger and take cover, but the naive keep on going and suffer for it.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
Train 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 rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will fail. God blesses a cheerful and generous person, but the vanity of his deeds he will bring to an end.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside. I will be killed in the streets."
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your heart to my instruction.
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Do not exploit the poor, because he is poor; and do not crush the needy in court;
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
for the LORD will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Do not befriend a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with one who harbors anger:
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Do not be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If you do not have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won't serve obscure men.
