Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him:
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? and what, O son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for rulers [to say], Where is the strong drink?
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
— lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the children of affliction.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of 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 thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all those that are left desolate.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and minister justice to the afflicted and needy.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who can find a woman of worth? for her price is far above rubies.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband confideth in her, and he shall have no lack of spoil.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She doeth him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar;
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and the day's work to her maidens.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She considereth a field, and acquireth it; of the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She perceiveth that her earning is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She putteth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She stretcheth out her hand to the afflicted, and she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She maketh herself coverlets; her clothing is byssus and purple.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She maketh body linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laugheth [at] the coming day.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She surveyeth the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her:
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Gracefulness is deceitful and beauty is vain; a woman [that] feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
