Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, do not forget my commands and keep my teachings in your heart,
2 Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Do not let covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness ever leave you, tie them together about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man.
5 Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding;
6 Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.
8 Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment for your body.
9 Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce,
10 Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
and your storehouses will be filled up and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.
11 Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction and do not hate his rebuke,
12 Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
for Yahweh disciplines those he loves, as a father deals with a son who pleases him.
13 Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
The one who finds wisdom is blessed; he also gets understanding.
14 Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return and its profit is better than gold.
15 Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare to her.
16 Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
She has length of days 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 kindness and all her paths are peace.
18 Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, those who hold on to it are happy.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth, by understanding he established the heavens.
20 Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
By his knowledge the depths broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21 Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
My son, keep sound judgment and discernment, and do not lose sight of them.
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
They will be life to your soul and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then you will walk on your way in safety and your foot will not stumble;
24 Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,
26 Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
for Yahweh will be on your side and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
27 Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
28 Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have the money with you.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor— the one who lives close and trusts you.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Do not argue with a person without a reason, when he has done nothing to harm you.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Do not envy a violent person or choose any of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the devious person is detestable to Yahweh, but he brings the upright person into his confidence.
33 Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
He mocks mockers, but he gives his favor to humble people.
35 Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
Wise people inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up in their shame.
