Izaga 24
1 Ungabi lamhawu ngabantu ababi, ungaloyisi ukuba labo.
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo iceba udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma uhlupho.
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 Ngenhlakanipho indlu iyakhiwa, langokuqedisisa iqiniswe.
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 Langolwazi amakamelo agcwaliswa ngempahla zonke eziligugu lezimnandi.
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla, lomuntu ololwazi uqinisa amandla.
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 Ngoba ngezeluleko ezihlakaniphileyo ungalawula impi yakho, lokukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Inhlakanipho enkulu iphakeme esiwuleni; esangweni kasivuli umlomo waso.
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 Oceba ukwenza okubi, bazambiza ngokuthi ngumnikazi wamacebo amabi.
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 Umcabango wobuwula yisono, lesideleli siyisinengiso emuntwini.
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 Uba uzitshengisa uxega ngosuku lokuhlupheka, amandla akho mancinyane.
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Bophule abasiwa ekufeni, labatatalikela ekubulaweni, kungathi ungabanqanda.
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
12 Uba usithi: Khangela besingakwazi lokhu; ohlola izinhliziyo yena kayikukunanzelela yini? Olondoloza umphefumulo wakho yena kakwazi yini? ngitsho ubuyisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe?
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13 Dlana uluju, ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile, lohlanga loluju lumnandi elwangeni lwakho.
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14 Lunjalo ulwazi lwenhlakanipho emphefumulweni wakho; uba uluthola, kuzakuba lomvuzo, lethemba lakho kaliyikuqunywa.
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Wena okhohlakeleyo, ungacathameli umuzi wolungileyo; ungachithi indawo yakhe yokuphumula.
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 Ngoba olungileyo uzakuwa kasikhombisa, avuke futhi; kodwa abakhohlakeleyo bazakhubeka ebubini.
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 Ungathokozi ngokuwa kwesitha sakho, lekukhubekeni kwaso inhliziyo yakho kayingajabuli;
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 hlezi iNkosi ikubone, kube kubi emehlweni ayo, iphendule ulaka lwayo ilususe kuso.
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabenzi bobubi, ungabi lamhawu ngabakhohlakeleyo;
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 ngoba omubi kayikuba lomvuzo; isibane sabakhohlakeleyo sizacitshwa.
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21 Ndodana yami, yesaba uJehova lenkosi; ungahlanganyeli labaguquguqukayo;
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 ngoba incithakalo yabo izavuka masinyane; njalo ngubani owazi ukuchitheka kwabo bobabili?
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 Lala ngawabahlakaniphileyo. Ukunaka ubuso kusahlulelo kakulunganga.
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 Othi kokhohlakeleyo: Wena ulungile; abantu bazamqalekisa, izizwe zizamthukuthelela.
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 Kodwa kulabo abamkhuzayo kuzakuba lentokozo, lesibusiso esihle sizabehlela.
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Ophendula ngamazwi aqondileyo uzakwanga indebe.
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Lungisa umsebenzi wakho ngaphandle, uzilungiselele wona ensimini, emva kwalokho wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Ungabi ngumfakazi umelene lomakhelwane wakho kungelasizatho, kumbe ukhohlise ngendebe zakho.
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 Ungathi: Njengokwenza kwakhe kimi ngizakwenza njalo kuye; ngizaphindisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe.
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevila, lesivinini somuntu oswele ingqondo;
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 khangela-ke, konke kwakumile ameva, imbabazane yayisibekele ubuso bakho, lomthangala wakho wamatshe udilikile.
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Mina-ke ngakukhangela, ngakubeka enhliziyweni yami; ngakubona, ngemukela imfundiso.
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 Ubuthongo obuncinyane, ukuwozela okuncinyane, ukusonga izandla okuncinyane ukuthi kulalwe,
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 besebusiza ubuyanga bakho njengesihambi, lenswelo zakho njengomuntu ohlomileyo.
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
