Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
