Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
and put a knife to your throat if you are a person who likes to eat a lot of food.
3 Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
Do not crave his delicacies, for it is the food of lies.
4 Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Do not work too hard to gain wealth; be wise enough to know when to stop.
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
Will you let your eyes light upon it? It will be gone, for it will surely take up wings like an eagle and fly off to the sky.
6 Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye— and do not crave his delicacies,
7 Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
for he is the kind of man who counts the price of the food. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten and you will have wasted your compliments.
9 Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of orphans,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
for their Redeemer is strong and he will plead their case against you.
12 Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Do not withhold instruction from a child, for if you discipline him, he will not die.
It is you who must beat him with the rod and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day.
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
Hear—you!—my son, and be wise and direct your heart in the way.
20 Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
Do not associate with drunkards, or with gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
for the drunkard and the glutton become poor and slumber will clothe them with rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Listen to your father who begot you and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
Buy the truth, but do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
The father of the righteous person will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will be glad in him.
25 Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
Let your father and your mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice.
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 prostitute is a deep pit, and an immoral woman is a narrow well.
28 Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
She lies in wait like a robber and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity.
29 Ngubani olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has fights? Who has complaining? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
Those who linger over wine, those who try the mixed wine.
31 Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
In the last it bites like a serpent and it stings like an adder.
33 Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
Your eyes will see strange things and your heart will utter perverse things.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
You will be as one who sleeps on the high seas or lies on the top of a mast.
35 Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
“They hit me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not feel it. When will I wake up? I will seek another drink.”
