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.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
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 drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She hath 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.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth 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.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
Her mouth she hath opened 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 bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
