Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
