Izaga 8
1 Inhlakanipho kayimemezi yini, lokuqedisisa kukhuphe ilizwi lakho?
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 Engqongeni yezindawo eziphakemeyo, ngasendleleni, phakathi kwezindlela kumi.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Eceleni kwamasango, entubeni yomuzi, ekungeneni kweminyango kuyamemeza kakhulu kuthi:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 Kini, madoda, ngiyamemeza, lelizwi lami lisebantwaneni babantu.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Lina elingelalwazi, qedisisani inhlakanipho; lani zithutha, qedisisani ngenhliziyo.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Zwanini, ngoba ngizakhuluma izinto zobukhosi, lokuvula kwendebe zami kuzakuba yikuqonda.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 Ngoba umlomo wami ukhuluma iqiniso, lenkohlakalo iyisinengiso endebeni zami.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Wonke amazwi omlomo wami asekulungeni; kakukho okutshilekileyo lokugobileyo kuwo.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 Wonke aqondile kulowo oqedisisayo, alungile kulabo abathola ulwazi.
They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Yemukelani ukufundisa kwami, hatshi isiliva, lolwazi kulegolide elikhethekileyo.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Ngoba inhlakanipho ingcono kulamatshe amahle, lakho konke okufisekayo kakulakulinganiswa layo.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 Mina nhlakanipho ngihlala lokuqedisisa, ngithola ulwazi lamacebo.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuzonda ububi; ukuzigqaja, lokuziqhenya, lendlela embi, lomlomo wokuphambeka ngiyakuzonda.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Iseluleko ngesami, lenhlakanipho eqotho; ngiyikuqedisisa; amandla ngawami.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
15 Ngami amakhosi ayabusa, lababusi bamisa ukulunga.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Ngami iziphathamandla ziyabusa, lezikhulu, bonke abehluleli bomhlaba.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 Mina ngiyathanda abangithandayo, lalabo abangidingisisayo bazangithola.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Inotho lodumo kukimi, inotho eqhubekayo lokulunga.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 Isithelo sami singcono kulegolide, legolide elicwengekileyo, lokutholakalayo kwami kulesiliva esikhethekileyo.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 Ngihamba endleleni yokulunga, phakathi kwemikhondo yesahlulelo;
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 ukuthi ngenze abangithandayo badle ilifa lemfuyo; ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 INkosi, ngaba ngeyayo, ngaba yikuqala kwendlela yayo, ngaphambi kwemisebenzi yayo yendulo.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
23 Ngamiswa kwasephakadeni, kusukela ekuqaleni, kusukela emandulo omhlaba.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24 Kungakabi khona izinziki ngasengizelwe, ingakabi khona imithombo enzima ngamanzi.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Intaba zingakamiswa, kungakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
26 Ingakawenzi umhlaba lemimango, lokuqala kwentuli zomhlaba.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Lapho ilungisa amazulu ngangikhonapho; lapho imisa umkhathi ngaphezu kwenziki;
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 lapho imisa amayezi ngaphezulu; lapho iqinisa imithombo yenziki;
when he established the clouds 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 gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, 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 the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 ngidlala elizweni lomhlaba wayo, lentokozo zami zisebantwaneni babantu.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with 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.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Ubusisiwe umuntu ongizwayo, alinde insuku ngensuku emasangweni ami, alinde emigubazini yeminyango yami.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 Ngoba ongitholayo uthola impilo, azuze umusa eNkosini.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
36 Kodwa owona kimi wona umphefumulo wakhe; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
