Izaga 24
1 Ungabi lamhawu ngabantu ababi, ungaloyisi ukuba labo.
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo iceba udlakela, lezindebe zabo zikhuluma uhlupho.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Ngenhlakanipho indlu iyakhiwa, langokuqedisisa iqiniswe.
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 Langolwazi amakamelo agcwaliswa ngempahla zonke eziligugu lezimnandi.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo ulamandla, lomuntu ololwazi uqinisa amandla.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 Ngoba ngezeluleko ezihlakaniphileyo ungalawula impi yakho, lokukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.
7 Inhlakanipho enkulu iphakeme esiwuleni; esangweni kasivuli umlomo waso.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Oceba ukwenza okubi, bazambiza ngokuthi ngumnikazi wamacebo amabi.
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 Umcabango wobuwula yisono, lesideleli siyisinengiso emuntwini.
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Uba uzitshengisa uxega ngosuku lokuhlupheka, amandla akho mancinyane.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 Bophule abasiwa ekufeni, labatatalikela ekubulaweni, kungathi ungabanqanda.
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 Uba usithi: Khangela besingakwazi lokhu; ohlola izinhliziyo yena kayikukunanzelela yini? Olondoloza umphefumulo wakho yena kakwazi yini? ngitsho ubuyisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe?
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 Dlana uluju, ndodana yami, ngoba lulungile, lohlanga loluju lumnandi elwangeni lwakho.
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 Lunjalo ulwazi lwenhlakanipho emphefumulweni wakho; uba uluthola, kuzakuba lomvuzo, lethemba lakho kaliyikuqunywa.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Wena okhohlakeleyo, ungacathameli umuzi wolungileyo; ungachithi indawo yakhe yokuphumula.
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 Ngoba olungileyo uzakuwa kasikhombisa, avuke futhi; kodwa abakhohlakeleyo bazakhubeka ebubini.
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Ungathokozi ngokuwa kwesitha sakho, lekukhubekeni kwaso inhliziyo yakho kayingajabuli;
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 hlezi iNkosi ikubone, kube kubi emehlweni ayo, iphendule ulaka lwayo ilususe kuso.
Lest YHWH see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Ungazikhathazi ngenxa yabenzi bobubi, ungabi lamhawu ngabakhohlakeleyo;
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 ngoba omubi kayikuba lomvuzo; isibane sabakhohlakeleyo sizacitshwa.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Ndodana yami, yesaba uJehova lenkosi; ungahlanganyeli labaguquguqukayo;
My son, fear thou YHWH and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 ngoba incithakalo yabo izavuka masinyane; njalo ngubani owazi ukuchitheka kwabo bobabili?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 Lala ngawabahlakaniphileyo. Ukunaka ubuso kusahlulelo kakulunganga.
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Othi kokhohlakeleyo: Wena ulungile; abantu bazamqalekisa, izizwe zizamthukuthelela.
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 Kodwa kulabo abamkhuzayo kuzakuba lentokozo, lesibusiso esihle sizabehlela.
But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Ophendula ngamazwi aqondileyo uzakwanga indebe.
Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Lungisa umsebenzi wakho ngaphandle, uzilungiselele wona ensimini, emva kwalokho wakhe indlu yakho.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Ungabi ngumfakazi umelene lomakhelwane wakho kungelasizatho, kumbe ukhohlise ngendebe zakho.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Ungathi: Njengokwenza kwakhe kimi ngizakwenza njalo kuye; ngizaphindisela emuntwini njengokomsebenzi wakhe.
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 Ngedlula ensimini yevila, lesivinini somuntu oswele ingqondo;
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 khangela-ke, konke kwakumile ameva, imbabazane yayisibekele ubuso bakho, lomthangala wakho wamatshe udilikile.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Mina-ke ngakukhangela, ngakubeka enhliziyweni yami; ngakubona, ngemukela imfundiso.
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Ubuthongo obuncinyane, ukuwozela okuncinyane, ukusonga izandla okuncinyane ukuthi kulalwe,
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 besebusiza ubuyanga bakho njengesihambi, lenswelo zakho njengomuntu ohlomileyo.
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
