Proverbs 3
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
