Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of 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 take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
