Izaga 3
1 Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
My son, forget not my law; but let thy 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 thee.
3 Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Let not mercy 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 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 thy heart; and lean not to thy 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 thy 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.
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 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 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] getteth 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 of it 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 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 upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.
19 Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath 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 thy eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
So shall they be life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, 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: but thou shalt lie down, and thy 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 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 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 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; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.
31 Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32 Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
For the froward [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 blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth 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.
