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 length to your days, years and peace to your life.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
Then you will find favor and high regard 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 lean not 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.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
then 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 reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and 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; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
