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 a house built; 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; and 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 counselors [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 faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

11 Bophule abasiwa ekufeni, labatatalikela ekubulaweni, kungathi ungabanqanda.

If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to 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 will [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 honey-comb, [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] to 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; destroy not his resting-place:

16 Ngoba olungileyo uzakuwa kasikhombisa, avuke futhi; kodwa abakhohlakeleyo bazakhubeka ebubini.

For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Ungathokozi ngokuwa kwesitha sakho, lekukhubekeni kwaso inhliziyo yakho kayingajabuli;

Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 hlezi iNkosi ikubone, kube kubi emehlweni ayo, iphendule ulaka lwayo ilususe kuso.

Lest the LORD 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 extinguished.

21 Ndodana yami, yesaba uJehova lenkosi; ungahlanganyeli labaguquguqukayo;

My son, fear thou the LORD 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 to the wicked, Thou [art] 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 thy house.

28 Ungabi ngumfakazi umelene lomakhelwane wakho kungelasizatho, kumbe ukhohlise ngendebe zakho.

Be not a witness against thy neighbor 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 of it, and its stone wall 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 traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.