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 precepts!
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
For length of days, and years of life, And peace shall they multiply to thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
Then shalt thou find favor and good success 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 on thine own understanding;
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will make thy paths plain.
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 muscles, And moisture to thy bones.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor the LORD with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thy increase;
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats overflow with new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, despise not the correction of the LORD, Nor be impatient under his chastisement!
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
For whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
Happy the man who findeth wisdom; Yea, the man who getteth understanding!
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
For the profit thereof is greater than that of silver, And the gain thereof than that of fine gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
More precious is she than pearls, And none of thy jewels is to be compared with 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 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 of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he framed the heavens.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By his knowledge the deep waters were cleft, And the clouds 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.
For they shall be life to thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then shalt thou go on 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, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Be not thou afraid of sudden alarm, Nor of the storm that is for the wicked, when it cometh;
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence; Yea, he will keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Withhold not kindness from those who need it, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Say not to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, While he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Contend not with a man without cause, When he hath done thee no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Envy not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the perverse man is the abomination of the LORD, But he is in friendship with the upright.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely the scorners he treadeth scornfully, But giveth favor to the lowly.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
The wise shall obtain honor, But fools shall bear off shame.
