Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, 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 evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
