Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments;
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not loving-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.
and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain 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 shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honour 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 shall thy barns 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 instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement;
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
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 them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth 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 deeps 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 shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble;
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Withhold not good from them 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.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.
