Proverbs 22
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
Ibizo elihle liyathandeka kulenotho enengi; ukuhlonitshwa kungcono kulesiliva kumbe igolide.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
Abanothileyo labayanga bayafanana ngalokhu: UThixo unguMenzi wabo bonke.
3 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
4 The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.
Ukuzithoba lokwesaba uThixo kuletha inotho lodumo lokuphila.
5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked; whoever guards his soul stays far from them.
Endleleni yababi kugcwele ameva lemjibila, kodwa onanzelela umphefumulo wakhe unqenqela khatshana.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Fundisa umntwana indlela amele ahambe ngayo, kuzakuthi esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
Abanothileyo babusa abayanga, lalowo owebolekayo uyisichaka salowo omebolekayo.
8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Lowo ohlanyele ububi uvuna ukuhlupheka, njalo uswazi lolaka lwakhe luzakwephulwa.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Umuntu ophanayo uzabusiswa, ngoba wabela abayanga ukudla kwakhe.
10 Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
Xotsha isideleli, lenkani ihle iphume; ukuxabana lokuthukana kuyaphela.
11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Othanda inhliziyo ehlanzekileyo, onkulumo yakhe ipholile uzakuba ngumngane wombusi.
12 Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Amehlo kaThixo ayaluvikela ulwazi kodwa uyawadiliza amazwi abangathembekanga.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane phandle! Ngizabulawa ezindleleni!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit. He who is under Yahweh’s wrath will fall into it.
Umlomo wesifebekazi unjengomgodi otshonayo; lowo othukwe nguThixo uzawobokela kuwo.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Ubuwula bugxilile enhliziyweni yomntwana, kodwa uswazi lokuqondisa luzabuxotshela khatshana.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
Lowo oncindezela abayanga ukuze anothe ngabo, lalowo oncenga abanothileyo ngezipho, bonke bacina sebengabayanga.
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
Lalela uzwe amazwi ezihlakaniphi; nikela inhliziyo yakho ezifundweni zami,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
ngoba kuyathokozisa nxa uzigcina enhliziyweni yakho, uzitsho kalula ngezindebe zakho.
19 I teach you today, even you, so that your trust may be in Yahweh.
Ukuze ithemba lakho lihlale kuThixo, yikho ngikufundisa lamuhla wena ngokwakho.
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Kangikulobelanga yini izitsho ezingamatshumi amathathu, izitsho zokweluleka lolwazi,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
ezikufundisa amazwi eqiniso athembekileyo, ukuze ukwazi ukupha impendulo ezilesisindo kulowo okuthumileyo na?
22 Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Ungagegeleli abayanga ngoba bengabayanga njalo ungaphoseli abaswelayo entolongweni,
23 for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba ngumeli wabo abahlukuluze labo ababahlukuluzayo.
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,
Ungabi ngumngane womuntu ololaka, ungahambi lomuntu ozonda masinyane,
25 lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.
funa ufunde izindlela zakhe uzingenise emjibileni.
26 Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.
Ungabi ngumuntu ophanga ukwenza izithembiso kumbe onika isibambiso ngezikwelede;
27 If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
ungayiswela inhlawulo uzakwemukwa noma ngumbheda wakho olala kuwo.
28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone which your fathers have set up.
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele elabekwa ngokhokho bakho.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
Uyambona umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe na? Uzasebenzela amakhosi; akayikusebenzela abantukazana.
