Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
For I was a son to my father, tender and an 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 your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10 Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone 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 like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20 Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
