Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17 Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
