Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
