Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are 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 you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
If you should fix your 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 you 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 yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
8 Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil your 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 your 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 you.
12 Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For you shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your 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 your 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.
Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your 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 your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
26 Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
[My] son, give me your heart, and let your 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 you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall 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 struck 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 your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
And you shall 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 you shall say, They struck 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?
