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 favor 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] foreseeth the evil, and hideth 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 honor, 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 doth 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 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 anger 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 shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
He that loveth 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 overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The slothful [man] 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 by 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 oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made 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 answer the words of truth to them that send to 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 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 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 not thou [one] 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 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.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
