Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
4 Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
5 Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
6 Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honor it, that it may embrace you;
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
10 Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17 Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18 Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
19 Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
