Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid 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 beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
