Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Mjezise ngoswazi ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
