Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he lacks nothing of value.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She brings him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is known at the city gate, where he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
