Izaga 23
1 Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo zakhe.
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 Ngoba njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “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 morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
for their Defender is strong. 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 the words of knowledge.
13 Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish 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 will be glad, even mine.
16 lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
20 Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 Ngoba isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
Let your father and your mother be glad! 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 keep in my ways.
27 Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
33 Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni sensika yomkhumbi.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
