Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, 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 works praise her in the gates.
