Izaga 24
1 Ungabi lamhawu ngabantu ababi, ungaloyisi ukuba labo.
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo iceba udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma uhlupho.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Ngenhlakanipho indlu iyakhiwa, langokuqedisisa iqiniswe.
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 Langolwazi amakamelo agcwaliswa ngempahla zonke eziligugu lezimnandi.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla, lomuntu ololwazi uqinisa amandla.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 Ngoba ngezeluleko ezihlakaniphileyo ungalawula impi yakho, lokukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Inhlakanipho enkulu iphakeme esiwuleni; esangweni kasivuli umlomo waso.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Oceba ukwenza okubi, bazambiza ngokuthi ngumnikazi wamacebo amabi.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 Umcabango wobuwula yisono, lesideleli siyisinengiso emuntwini.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 Uba uzitshengisa uxega ngosuku lokuhlupheka, amandla akho mancinyane.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Bophule abasiwa ekufeni, labatatalikela ekubulaweni, kungathi ungabanqanda.
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].
12 Uba usithi: Khangela besingakwazi lokhu; ohlola izinhliziyo yena kayikukunanzelela yini? Olondoloza umphefumulo wakho yena kakwazi yini? ngitsho ubuyisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe?
But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
13 Dlana uluju, ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile, lohlanga loluju lumnandi elwangeni lwakho.
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.
14 Lunjalo ulwazi lwenhlakanipho emphefumulweni wakho; uba uluthola, kuzakuba lomvuzo, lethemba lakho kaliyikuqunywa.
Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.
15 Wena okhohlakeleyo, ungacathameli umuzi wolungileyo; ungachithi indawo yakhe yokuphumula.
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 Ngoba olungileyo uzakuwa kasikhombisa, avuke futhi; kodwa abakhohlakeleyo bazakhubeka ebubini.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Ungathokozi ngokuwa kwesitha sakho, lekukhubekeni kwaso inhliziyo yakho kayingajabuli;
If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 hlezi iNkosi ikubone, kube kubi emehlweni ayo, iphendule ulaka lwayo ilususe kuso.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabenzi bobubi, ungabi lamhawu ngabakhohlakeleyo;
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 ngoba omubi kayikuba lomvuzo; isibane sabakhohlakeleyo sizacitshwa.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Ndodana yami, yesaba uJehova lenkosi; ungahlanganyeli labaguquguqukayo;
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 ngoba incithakalo yabo izavuka masinyane; njalo ngubani owazi ukuchitheka kwabo bobabili?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 Lala ngawabahlakaniphileyo. Ukunaka ubuso kusahlulelo kakulunganga.
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Othi kokhohlakeleyo: Wena ulungile; abantu bazamqalekisa, izizwe zizamthukuthelela.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 Kodwa kulabo abamkhuzayo kuzakuba lentokozo, lesibusiso esihle sizabehlela.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Ophendula ngamazwi aqondileyo uzakwanga indebe.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Lungisa umsebenzi wakho ngaphandle, uzilungiselele wona ensimini, emva kwalokho wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
28 Ungabi ngumfakazi umelene lomakhelwane wakho kungelasizatho, kumbe ukhohlise ngendebe zakho.
Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.
29 Ungathi: Njengokwenza kwakhe kimi ngizakwenza njalo kuye; ngizaphindisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe.
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevila, lesivinini somuntu oswele ingqondo;
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 khangela-ke, konke kwakumile ameva, imbabazane yayisibekele ubuso bakho, lomthangala wakho wamatshe udilikile.
If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Mina-ke ngakukhangela, ngakubeka enhliziyweni yami; ngakubona, ngemukela imfundiso.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 Ubuthongo obuncinyane, ukuwozela okuncinyane, ukusonga izandla okuncinyane ukuthi kulalwe,
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 besebusiza ubuyanga bakho njengesihambi, lenswelo zakho njengomuntu ohlomileyo.
But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.
