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, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
The prudent hath 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 Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso 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 turneth not from it.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
