Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
Words of Lemuel, a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
“What, my son? And what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not give your strength to women, And your ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes—a desire of strong drink.
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
He drinks, and forgets his poverty, And he does not remember his misery again.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open your mouth for the mute, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!”
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
[ALEPH-BET] A woman of worth who finds? Indeed, her price [is] far above rubies.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband has trusted in her, And he does not lack spoil.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She has done him 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 with delight she works [with] her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She has been as ships of the merchant, She brings in her bread from afar.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
Indeed, she rises while yet night, And gives food to her household, And a portion to her girls.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She has considered a field, and takes it, She has planted a vineyard from the fruit of her hands.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She has girded her loins with might, And strengthens her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She has perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She has sent forth her hands on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She has spread forth her hand to the poor, Indeed, she sent forth her hands to the needy.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She has made ornamental coverings for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is known in the gates, In his sitting with [the] elderly of [the] land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She has made linen garments, and sells, And she has given a girdle to the merchant.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and honor [are] her clothing, And she rejoices at a latter day.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She has opened her mouth in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And she does not eat bread of sloth.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her blessed, Her husband, and he praises her,
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
“The daughters who have done worthily [are] many, You have gone up above them all.”
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Favor [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing YHWH, she may boast herself.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works praise her in the gates!
