Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
3 Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
7 Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
8 Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
9 Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
10 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
12 Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
19 Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
20 Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
23 Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
24 Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
26 Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
[My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
29 Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
