Izaga 30
1 Amazwi kaAguri indodana kaJake umMasa. Umuntu wathi kuIthiyeli, kuIthiyeli loUkhali:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Isibili, ngiyisithutha kulomuntu, kangilakuqedisisa komuntu.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
3 Kangifundanga inhlakanipho, kangilwazi ulwazi lwabangcwele.
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have 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 has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if 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.
Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 Zimbili izinto engizicele kuwe; ungangigodleli zona ngingakafi.
“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.
8 Susa khatshana lami ize lamazwi amanga; ungangiphi ubuyanga loba inotho; ungiphe ukudla kwesabelo sami.
Remove far from me falsehood 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, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 Ungahlebi inceku enkosini yayo, hlezi ikuthuke, ube lecala.
“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 Kulesizukulwana esithuka uyise, esingabusisi unina;
There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t bless their mother.
12 isizukulwana esihlambulukileyo emehlweni aso, kodwa esingahlanjululwanga engcekezeni yaso;
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, 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! 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 like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor 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, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:
16 Ingcwaba, lesizalo esiyinyumba, umhlaba ongasuthi amanzi, lomlilo ongathi: Kwanele. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough!’ (Sheol h7585)
17 Ilihlo eliklolodela uyise, lelidelela ukulalela unina, amawabayi esihotsha azalikopola, labantwana bamanqe bazalidla.
“The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18 Lezizinto ezintathu ziyisimangaliso esikhulu kimi, yebo, ezine engingazaziyo:
“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:
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 on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 Injalo indlela yowesifazana oliwule; udla, esule umlomo wakhe, athi: Kangenzanga isiphambeko.
“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 Ngenxa yezinto ezintathu umhlaba uyazamazama, yebo, ngenxa yezine ongezithwale:
“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:
22 Ngenxa yesigqili nxa sibusa, lesithutha nxa sisuthi ukudla,
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 ngenxa yesaliwakazi nxa sendile, lencekukazi nxa iyindlalifa yenkosikazi yayo.
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24 Lezi ezine zingezincinyane zomhlaba, kanti zihlakaniphile zenziwe zihlakaniphe:
“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25 Ubunyonyo buyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti bulungisa ukudla kwabo ehlobo.
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26 Imbila ziyisizwe esingelamandla, kanti zimisa indlu yazo edwaleni.
The hyraxes 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 they advance in ranks.
28 Umbankwa ubambelela ngezandla ezimbili, njalo usezigodlweni zenkosi.
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 Lezi ezintathu zinyathela kuhle, yebo, ezine zihamba kuhle:
“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30 Isilwane esilamandla phakathi kwenyamazana, esingeyikubuyela emuva ngenxa yobuso loba ngobukabani;
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;
31 inja ebhince okhalweni, kumbe impongo; lenkosi ileviyo lamabutho.
the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 Uba ube yisithutha ngokuziphakamisa, njalo uba ucebe okubi, beka isandla emlonyeni.
“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought 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 produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
