Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
