Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee,
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
And put the knife to thy throte, if thou be a man giuen to the appetite.
3 Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
Be not desirous of his deintie meates: for it is a deceiuable meate.
4 Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trauaile not too much to be rich: but cease from thy wisdome.
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
Wilt thou cast thine eyes vpon it, which is nothing? for riches taketh her to her wings, as an eagle, and flyeth into the heauen.
6 Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
Eate thou not the bread of him that hath an euil eye, neither desire his deintie meates.
7 Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
For as though he thought it in his heart, so will hee say vnto thee, Eate and drinke: but his heart is not with thee.
8 Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
Thou shalt vomit thy morsels that thou hast eaten, and thou shalt lose thy sweete wordes.
9 Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Speake not in the eares of a foole: for hee will despise the wisdome of thy wordes.
10 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
Remooue not the ancient boundes, and enter not into the fieldes of the fatherlesse.
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
For he that redeemeth them, is mightie: he will defend their cause against thee.
12 Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and thine eares to the wordes of knowledge.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Withhold not correction from the childe: if thou smite him with the rodde, he shall not die.
Thou shalt smite him with the rodde, and shalt deliuer his soule from hell. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
My sonne, if thine heart be wise, mine heart shall reioyce, and I also.
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
And my reynes shall reioyce, when thy lips speake righteous things.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Let not thine heart bee enuious against sinners: but let it bee in the feare of the Lord continually.
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
For surely there is an ende, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
19 Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
O thou my sonne, heare, and bee wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
Keepe not company with drunkards, nor with gluttons.
21 Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
For the drunkard and the glutton shall bee poore, and the sleeper shalbe clothed with ragges.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Obey thy father that hath begotten thee, and despise not thy mother when she is olde.
23 Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
Bye the trueth, but sell it not: likewise wisdome, and instruction, and vnderstanding.
24 Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
The father of the righteous shall greatly reioyce, and hee that begetteth a wise childe, shall haue ioy of him.
25 Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall reioyce.
26 Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
My sonne, giue mee thine heart, and let thine eyes delite in my wayes.
27 Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
For a whore is as a deepe ditche, and a strange woman is as a narrowe pitte.
28 Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
Also she lyeth in wait as for a praye, and she increaseth the transgressers among men.
29 Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
To whome is woe? to whome is sorowe? to whom is strife? to whom is murmuring? to whom are woundes without cause? and to whome is the rednesse of the eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
Euen to them that tarie long at the wine, to them that goe, and seeke mixt wine.
31 Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
Looke not thou vpon the wine, when it is red, and when it sheweth his colour in the cup, or goeth downe pleasantly.
32 Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
In the ende thereof it will bite like a serpent, and hurt like a cockatrise.
33 Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
Thine eyes shall looke vpon strange women, and thine heart shall speake lewde things.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
And thou shalt bee as one that sleepeth in the middes of the sea, and as hee that sleepeth in the toppe of the maste.
35 Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
They haue stricken mee, shalt thou say, but I was not sicke: they haue beaten mee, but I knew not, when I awoke: therefore will I seeke it yet still.
