Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, do not forget my law, but let thy heart keep my commandments.
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, they will add to thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart,
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
so thou shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It will be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase,
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
so thy barns shall be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of his reproof.
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For whom Jehovah loves he reproves, and he whips every son whom he receives.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For the gain of it is better than the gain of silver, and the profit of it than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things thou can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth. By understanding he established the heavens.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
so they shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then thou shall walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
When thou lie down, thou shall not be afraid. Yea, thou shall lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For Jehovah will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Do not say to thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou have it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not devise evil against thy neighbor, since he dwells securely by thee.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Do not envy thou the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the perverse man is an abomination to Jehovah, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of a wicked man, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely the Lord is opposed to the arrogant, but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
