Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
30 khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
