Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of Lemuel the king, —the strain which was taught him by his mother: —
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? aye what, the son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin 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 drink wine, nor, for dignitaries, to desire strong drink,
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink, to him that is perishing, and wine, to such as are embittered in soul:
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and, his wearying toil, let him remember no more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the children of the departed.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open thy mouth—judge righteously, —and administer justice for the poor and the needy.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband, trusteth her, and, gain, he shall not lack:
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 ships of the merchant, from afar, she bringeth in her food;
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
And she riseth, while yet it is night, and giveth food to her household, and a task to her maidens:
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She considereth a field, and procureth it, Out of the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard:
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She girdeth, with strength her loins, and putteth vigour into her arms:
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She tasteth, whether, good, be her merchandise, and her lamp, goeth not out by night:
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
Her hands, she putteth forth to the distaff, and, her palms, lay hold of the spindle:
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
Her palm, she spreadeth out to the oppressed, and, her hands, she extendeth to the needy:
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She feareth not, for her household, because of the snow, for, all her household, are clothed with crimson:
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
Coverlets, she maketh for herself, Of white linen and of purple, is her clothing:
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Known in the gates, is her husband, when he sitteth, with the elders of the land:
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
Fine linen wraps, she maketh and selleth, and, girdles, doth she deliver to the trader:
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and dignity, are her clothing, and she laugheth at the time to come:
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
Her mouth, she openeth with wisdom, and, the instruction of kindness, is on her tongue:
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She looketh well to the goings of her household, and, the bread of idleness, will she not eat.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children rise up, and call her happy! her husband, and he praiseth her: —
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Many daughters, have done virtuously, but, thou, excellest them all!
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Deceitful is loveliness and vain is beauty, The woman that revereth Yahweh, she, shall be praised:
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her of the fruit of her own hands, and let her own works, praise her in the gates.
