Proverbs 31
1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
