Izaga 1
1 Izaga zikaSolomoni, indodana kaDavida, inkosi yakoIsrayeli;
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 ukwazi inhlakanipho lokulaywa, ukuqedisisa amazwi okuqedisisa,
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3 ukwemukela ukulaya kwenhlakanipho, ukulunga, lesahlulelo, lokuqonda;
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 ukunika abangelalwazi inhlakanipho, ijaha ulwazi lengqondo.
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5 Ohlakaniphileyo uzakuzwa, andise ukufunda, loqedisisayo uzazuza izeluleko,
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6 ukuqedisisa isaga lomzekeliso, amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, lamalibho abo.
to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kolwazi; izithutha ziyadelela inhlakanipho lokulaywa.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Ndodana yami, zwana ukulaya kukayihlo, ungawudeli umlayo kanyoko;
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 ngoba kuzakuba ngumqhele womusa ekhanda lakho, lemigaxo entanyeni yakho.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10 Ndodana yami, uba izoni zikuhuga, ungavumi.
My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
11 Uba zisithi: Hamba lathi, siyecathamela igazi, sicatshele ongelacala kungelasizatho;
If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Sizathola yonke impahla eligugu, sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango.
We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 Phosela inkatho yakho phakathi kwethu; sonke sibe lesikhwama semali sinye.
You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
15 Ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo endleleni; unqande unyawo lwakho emkhondweni wazo.
my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 Ngoba inyawo zazo zigijimela ebubini, ziphangisa ukuchitha igazi.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 Isibili, imbule lendlalelwa ize phambi kwamehlo aloba yiyiphi inyoni.
For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18 Lalaba bacathamela igazi labo, bacatshele imiphefumulo yabo.
but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Zinjalo indlela zakhe wonke ozuza inzuzo ngokuphanga; ithatha impilo yabaniniyo.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 UkuHlakanipha kuyamemeza ngaphandle, kukhupha ilizwi lakho emidangeni.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 Kuyamemeza endaweni eqakathekileyo yokuxokozela, ekungeneni kwamasango; emzini kutsho amazwi akho,
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 kusithi: Koze kube nini, lina elingelalwazi, lithanda ukungabi lalwazi, labaklolodayo bezifisela ukukloloda, leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi?
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Phendukelani ekukhuzeni kwami; khangelani, ngizathululela umoya wami kini, ngilazise amazwi ami.
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Ngoba ngibizile, kodwa lala; ngelulile isandla sami, kodwa kakho onanzayo;
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 ladelela sonke iseluleko sami, kalivumanga ukukhuza kwami;
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 mina-ke ngizahleka ukuchitheka kwenu, ngiklolode ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu,
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu njengesiphepho, lokuchitheka kwenu kufika njengesivunguzane, lapho ubuhlungu losizi kulehlela.
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Khona bazangibiza, kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidingisisa, kodwa kabayikungithola.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 Ngenxa yokuthi babezonda ulwazi, bengakhethanga ukwesaba iNkosi.
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 Kabavumanga iseluleko sami, bedelela konke ukukhuza kwami.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Ngakho bazakudla okwesithelo sendlela yabo, basuthiswe ngamacebo abo.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 Ngoba ukuhlehla kwabangelalwazi kuzababulala, lokonwaba kweziphukuphuku kuzababhubhisa.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 Kodwa ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile, onwabe ekwesabeni okubi.
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
