Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4 Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men;
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.
17 Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19 Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
