Izaga 4
1 Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
For, a son I have been 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 directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy 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.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee 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 thee.
11 Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
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 till 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, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
