Izaga 30
1 Amazwi kaAguri indodana kaJake umMasa. Umuntu wathi kuIthiyeli, kuIthiyeli loUkhali:
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Isibili, ngiyisithutha kulomuntu, kangilakuqedisisa komuntu.
Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
3 Kangifundanga inhlakanipho, kangilwazi ulwazi lwabangcwele.
I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Ngubani owenyukela emazulwini njalo wehla? Ngubani oqoqe wafumbatha umoya ezandleni zakhe? Ngubani ogoqele amanzi esembathweni? Ngubani omise yonke imikhawulo yomhlaba? Lingubani ibizo lakhe, lebizo lendodana yakhe lingubani, uba usazi?
Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know!
5 Lonke ilizwi likaNkulunkulu licwengekile; uyisihlangu kwabaphephela kuye.
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Ungengezeleli emazwini akhe, hlezi akukhuze, utholwe ungumqambimanga.
Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 Zimbili izinto engizicele kuwe; ungangigodleli zona ngingakafi.
Two things I ask of You— do not refuse me before I die:
8 Susa khatshana lami ize lamazwi amanga; ungangiphi ubuyanga loba inotho; ungiphe ukudla kwesabelo sami.
Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.
9 Hlezi ngisuthe, ngikuphike ngithi: Ngubani iNkosi? Kumbe hlezi ngibe ngumyanga, ngintshontshe, ngithathe ngeze ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami.
Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
10 Ungahlebi inceku enkosini yayo, hlezi ikuthuke, ube lecala.
Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
11 Kulesizukulwana esithuka uyise, esingabusisi unina;
There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12 isizukulwana esihlambulukileyo emehlweni aso, kodwa esingahlanjululwanga engcekezeni yaso;
There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
13 isizukulwana omehlo aso aphakeme kangaka, lenkophe zaso ziphakanyisiwe;
There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
14 isizukulwana omazinyo aso zinkemba, lesimazinyo aso omhlathi zingqamu, zokudla abayanga emhlabeni, labaswelayo ebantwini.
there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
15 Umkhaza ulamadodakazi amabili athi: Phana, phana; lezizontathu kazisuthi; ezine kazitsho ukuthi: Kwanele.
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 Ingcwaba, lesizalo esiyinyumba, umhlaba ongasuthi amanzi, lomlilo ongathi: Kwanele. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 Ilihlo eliklolodela uyise, lelidelela ukulalela unina, amawabayi esihotsha azalikopola, labantwana bamanqe bazalidla.
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
18 Lezizinto ezintathu ziyisimangaliso esikhulu kimi, yebo, ezine engingazaziyo:
There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
19 Indlela yokhozi emazulwini, indlela yenyoka edwaleni, indlela yomkhumbi enhliziyweni yolwandle, lendlela yejaha entombini.
the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 Injalo indlela yowesifazana oliwule; udla, esule umlomo wakhe, athi: Kangenzanga isiphambeko.
This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 Ngenxa yezinto ezintathu umhlaba uyazamazama, yebo, ngenxa yezine ongezithwale:
Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 Ngenxa yesigqili nxa sibusa, lesithutha nxa sisuthi ukudla,
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,
23 ngenxa yesaliwakazi nxa sendile, lencekukazi nxa iyindlalifa yenkosikazi yayo.
an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
24 Lezi ezine zingezincinyane zomhlaba, kanti zihlakaniphile zenziwe zihlakaniphe:
Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 Ubunyonyo buyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti bulungisa ukudla kwabo ehlobo.
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 Imbila ziyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti zimisa indlu yazo edwaleni.
the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
27 Intethe kazilankosi, kanti zonke ziphuma zehlukene ngamaviyo.
the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
28 Umbankwa ubambelela ngezandla ezimbili, njalo usezigodlweni zenkosi.
and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
29 Lezi ezintathu zinyathela kuhle, yebo, ezine zihamba kuhle:
There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
30 Isilwane esilamandla phakathi kwenyamazana, esingeyikubuyela emuva ngenxa yobuso loba ngobukabani;
a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
31 inja ebhince okhalweni, kumbe impongo; lenkosi ileviyo lamabutho.
a strutting rooster; a he-goat; and a king with his army around him.
32 Uba ube yisithutha ngokuziphakamisa, njalo uba ucebe okubi, beka isandla emlonyeni.
If you have foolishly exalted yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33 Ngoba ukuphehlwa kochago kuveza iphehla, lokucindezelwa kwempumulo kuveza igazi, lokucindezelwa kwentukuthelo kuveza ingxabano.
For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
