Izaga 1
1 Izaga zikaSolomoni, indodana kaDavida, inkosi yakoIsrayeli;
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 ukwazi inhlakanipho lokulaywa, ukuqedisisa amazwi okuqedisisa,
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 ukwemukela ukulaya kwenhlakanipho, ukulunga, lesahlulelo, lokuqonda;
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 ukunika abangelalwazi inhlakanipho, ijaha ulwazi lengqondo.
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 Ohlakaniphileyo uzakuzwa, andise ukufunda, loqedisisayo uzazuza izeluleko,
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 ukuqedisisa isaga lomzekeliso, amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, lamalibho abo.
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kolwazi; izithutha ziyadelela inhlakanipho lokulaywa.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 Ndodana yami, zwana ukulaya kukayihlo, ungawudeli umlayo kanyoko;
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 ngoba kuzakuba ngumqhele womusa ekhanda lakho, lemigaxo entanyeni yakho.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 Ndodana yami, uba izoni zikuhuga, ungavumi.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 Uba zisithi: Hamba lathi, siyecathamela igazi, sicatshele ongelacala kungelasizatho;
If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Sizathola yonke impahla eligugu, sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango.
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 Phosela inkatho yakho phakathi kwethu; sonke sibe lesikhwama semali sinye.
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 Ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo endleleni; unqande unyawo lwakho emkhondweni wazo.
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 Ngoba inyawo zazo zigijimela ebubini, ziphangisa ukuchitha igazi.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 Isibili, imbule lendlalelwa ize phambi kwamehlo aloba yiyiphi inyoni.
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 Lalaba bacathamela igazi labo, bacatshele imiphefumulo yabo.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 Zinjalo indlela zakhe wonke ozuza inzuzo ngokuphanga; ithatha impilo yabaniniyo.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 UkuHlakanipha kuyamemeza ngaphandle, kukhupha ilizwi lakho emidangeni.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 Kuyamemeza endaweni eqakathekileyo yokuxokozela, ekungeneni kwamasango; emzini kutsho amazwi akho,
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 kusithi: Koze kube nini, lina elingelalwazi, lithanda ukungabi lalwazi, labaklolodayo bezifisela ukukloloda, leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi?
“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
23 Phendukelani ekukhuzeni kwami; khangelani, ngizathululela umoya wami kini, ngilazise amazwi ami.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Ngoba ngibizile, kodwa lala; ngelulile isandla sami, kodwa kakho onanzayo;
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 ladelela sonke iseluleko sami, kalivumanga ukukhuza kwami;
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 mina-ke ngizahleka ukuchitheka kwenu, ngiklolode ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu,
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu njengesiphepho, lokuchitheka kwenu kufika njengesivunguzane, lapho ubuhlungu losizi kulehlela.
When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 Khona bazangibiza, kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidingisisa, kodwa kabayikungithola.
then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 Ngenxa yokuthi babezonda ulwazi, bengakhethanga ukwesaba iNkosi.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 Kabavumanga iseluleko sami, bedelela konke ukukhuza kwami.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 Ngakho bazakudla okwesithelo sendlela yabo, basuthiswe ngamacebo abo.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 Ngoba ukuhlehla kwabangelalwazi kuzababulala, lokonwaba kweziphukuphuku kuzababhubhisa.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 Kodwa ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile, onwabe ekwesabeni okubi.
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
