Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29 lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;
30 khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32 Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
