Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you 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. All her paths are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
By wisdom the LORD 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 your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot will not stumble.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your 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 your hand to do it.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
