Izaga 1
1 Izaga zikaSolomoni, indodana kaDavida, inkosi yakoIsrayeli;
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 ukwazi inhlakanipho lokulaywa, ukuqedisisa amazwi okuqedisisa,
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 ukwemukela ukulaya kwenhlakanipho, ukulunga, lesahlulelo, lokuqonda;
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 ukunika abangelalwazi inhlakanipho, ijaha ulwazi lengqondo.
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 Ohlakaniphileyo uzakuzwa, andise ukufunda, loqedisisayo uzazuza izeluleko,
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 ukuqedisisa isaga lomzekeliso, amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, lamalibho abo.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kolwazi; izithutha ziyadelela inhlakanipho lokulaywa.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 Ndodana yami, zwana ukulaya kukayihlo, ungawudeli umlayo kanyoko;
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 ngoba kuzakuba ngumqhele womusa ekhanda lakho, lemigaxo entanyeni yakho.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 Ndodana yami, uba izoni zikuhuga, ungavumi.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 Uba zisithi: Hamba lathi, siyecathamela igazi, sicatshele ongelacala kungelasizatho;
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! (Sheol h7585)
13 Sizathola yonke impahla eligugu, sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango.
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 Phosela inkatho yakho phakathi kwethu; sonke sibe lesikhwama semali sinye.
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 Ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo endleleni; unqande unyawo lwakho emkhondweni wazo.
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 Ngoba inyawo zazo zigijimela ebubini, ziphangisa ukuchitha igazi.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 Isibili, imbule lendlalelwa ize phambi kwamehlo aloba yiyiphi inyoni.
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 Lalaba bacathamela igazi labo, bacatshele imiphefumulo yabo.
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 Zinjalo indlela zakhe wonke ozuza inzuzo ngokuphanga; ithatha impilo yabaniniyo.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 UkuHlakanipha kuyamemeza ngaphandle, kukhupha ilizwi lakho emidangeni.
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 Kuyamemeza endaweni eqakathekileyo yokuxokozela, ekungeneni kwamasango; emzini kutsho amazwi akho,
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22 kusithi: Koze kube nini, lina elingelalwazi, lithanda ukungabi lalwazi, labaklolodayo bezifisela ukukloloda, leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi?
“How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?
23 Phendukelani ekukhuzeni kwami; khangelani, ngizathululela umoya wami kini, ngilazise amazwi ami.
Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
24 Ngoba ngibizile, kodwa lala; ngelulile isandla sami, kodwa kakho onanzayo;
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 ladelela sonke iseluleko sami, kalivumanga ukukhuza kwami;
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 mina-ke ngizahleka ukuchitheka kwenu, ngiklolode ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu,
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu njengesiphepho, lokuchitheka kwenu kufika njengesivunguzane, lapho ubuhlungu losizi kulehlela.
When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you,
28 Khona bazangibiza, kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidingisisa, kodwa kabayikungithola.
then you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me.
29 Ngenxa yokuthi babezonda ulwazi, bengakhethanga ukwesaba iNkosi.
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 Kabavumanga iseluleko sami, bedelela konke ukukhuza kwami.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 Ngakho bazakudla okwesithelo sendlela yabo, basuthiswe ngamacebo abo.
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 Ngoba ukuhlehla kwabangelalwazi kuzababulala, lokonwaba kweziphukuphuku kuzababhubhisa.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 Kodwa ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile, onwabe ekwesabeni okubi.
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
