Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 lapho imisela ulwandle umngcele walo ukuze amanzi angeqi umlayo wayo; lapho imisa izisekelo zomhlaba;
I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 khona ngangiseduze layo njengowakhuliswa yiyo, ngizintokozo zayo usuku ngosuku, ngithokoza phambi kwayo ngaso sonke isikhathi,
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Ngakho-ke, bantwana bami, ngizweni; ngoba babusisiwe abagcina indlela zami.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Zwanini ukulaya, lihlakaniphe, lingakudeli.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
