Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
So shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil;
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honour the LORD 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 chastening of the LORD, neither spurn thou His correction;
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof 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 to be compared unto 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 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 every one that holdest her fast.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The LORD by wisdom 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 not them 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 to thy neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Withhold not good from him 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 thou 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 the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame.
