Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
4 Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
5 Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
6 Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
10 Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
[So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
17 Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
18 Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
19 Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
[But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
20 Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
