Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
So shall you find favor and good understanding 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 to your own understanding.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets 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 you can desire are not to be compared to her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
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 on her: and happy is every one that retains her.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your 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 your hand to do it.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
