Proverbs 31
1 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
2 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
3 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
4 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
5 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
6 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
7 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
8 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
9 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
10 Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
12 For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
13 Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
14 She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
15 And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
16 She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
17 She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
18 And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
19 She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
20 And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
21 Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
22 She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
23 And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
24 She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
25 She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days.
Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
26 But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
27 The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
29 Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all.
Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
30 Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
31 Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
