Izaga 30

1 Amazwi kaAguri indodana kaJake umMasa. Umuntu wathi kuIthiyeli, kuIthiyeli loUkhali:

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

2 Isibili, ngiyisithutha kulomuntu, kangilakuqedisisa komuntu.

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man:

3 Kangifundanga inhlakanipho, kangilwazi ulwazi lwabangcwele.

And I have not learned wisdom, neither have I the 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 hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in his garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?

5 Lonke ilizwi likaNkulunkulu licwengekile; uyisihlangu kwabaphephela kuye.

Every word of God is tried: he is a shield unto them that trust in him.

6 Ungengezeleli emazwini akhe, hlezi akukhuze, utholwe ungumqambimanga.

Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Zimbili izinto engizicele kuwe; ungangigodleli zona ngingakafi.

Two things have I asked of thee; deny me [them] not before I die:

8 Susa khatshana lami ize lamazwi amanga; ungangiphi ubuyanga loba inotho; ungiphe ukudla kwesabelo sami.

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me:

9 Hlezi ngisuthe, ngikuphike ngithi: Ngubani iNkosi? Kumbe hlezi ngibe ngumyanga, ngintshontshe, ngithathe ngeze ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami.

Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and use profanely the name of my God.

10 Ungahlebi inceku enkosini yayo, hlezi ikuthuke, ube lecala.

Slander not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

11 Kulesizukulwana esithuka uyise, esingabusisi unina;

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 isizukulwana esihlambulukileyo emehlweni aso, kodwa esingahlanjululwanga engcekezeni yaso;

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes; and [yet] are not washed from their filthiness.

13 isizukulwana omehlo aso aphakeme kangaka, lenkophe zaso ziphakanyisiwe;

There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14 isizukulwana omazinyo aso zinkemba, lesimazinyo aso omhlathi zingqamu, zokudla abayanga emhlabeni, labaswelayo ebantwini.

There is a generation whose teeth are [as] swords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

15 Umkhaza ulamadodakazi amabili athi: Phana, phana; lezizontathu kazisuthi; ezine kazitsho ukuthi: Kwanele.

The horseleach hath two daughters, [Crying], Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, [yea], four that say not, Enough:

16 Ingcwaba, lesizalo esiyinyumba, umhlaba ongasuthi amanzi, lomlilo ongathi: Kwanele. (Sheol h7585)

The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that saith not, Enough. (Sheol h7585)

17 Ilihlo eliklolodela uyise, lelidelela ukulalela unina, amawabayi esihotsha azalikopola, labantwana bamanqe bazalidla.

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 Lezizinto ezintathu ziyisimangaliso esikhulu kimi, yebo, ezine engingazaziyo:

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19 Indlela yokhozi emazulwini, indlela yenyoka edwaleni, indlela yomkhumbi enhliziyweni yolwandle, lendlela yejaha entombini.

The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

20 Injalo indlela yowesifazana oliwule; udla, esule umlomo wakhe, athi: Kangenzanga isiphambeko.

So is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

21 Ngenxa yezinto ezintathu umhlaba uyazamazama, yebo, ngenxa yezine ongezithwale:

For three things the earth doth tremble, and for four, [which] it cannot bear:

22 Ngenxa yesigqili nxa sibusa, lesithutha nxa sisuthi ukudla,

For a servant when he is king; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

23 ngenxa yesaliwakazi nxa sendile, lencekukazi nxa iyindlalifa yenkosikazi yayo.

For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 Lezi ezine zingezincinyane zomhlaba, kanti zihlakaniphile zenziwe zihlakaniphe:

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

25 Ubunyonyo buyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti bulungisa ukudla kwabo ehlobo.

The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their meat in the summer;

26 Imbila ziyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti zimisa indlu yazo edwaleni.

The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

27 Intethe kazilankosi, kanti zonke ziphuma zehlukene ngamaviyo.

The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

28 Umbankwa ubambelela ngezandla ezimbili, njalo usezigodlweni zenkosi.

The lizard taketh hold with her hands, yet is she in kings’ palaces,

29 Lezi ezintathu zinyathela kuhle, yebo, ezine zihamba kuhle:

There be three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:

30 Isilwane esilamandla phakathi kwenyamazana, esingeyikubuyela emuva ngenxa yobuso loba ngobukabani;

The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

31 inja ebhince okhalweni, kumbe impongo; lenkosi ileviyo lamabutho.

The greyhound; the he-goat also; and the king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 Uba ube yisithutha ngokuziphakamisa, njalo uba ucebe okubi, beka isandla emlonyeni.

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 Ngoba ukuphehlwa kochago kuveza iphehla, lokucindezelwa kwempumulo kuveza igazi, lokucindezelwa kwentukuthelo kuveza ingxabano.

For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.