Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29 lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32 Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
