Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
Length of days [is] in her right hand, In her left [are] wealth 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 those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
