Proverbs 8
1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
Ukuhlakanipha kakumemezi yini? Ukuqedisisa kakuphakamisi ilizwi lakho na?
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
Emiqolweni yezindlela, emahlanganweni ezindlela kulapho okujame khona;
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
emasangweni angena phakathi kwedolobho, ezintubeni kuyamemeza kakhulu kusithi:
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
“Ngimemeza lina, madoda; ilizwi lami libiza bonke abantu.
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Lina eliyizithutha, zuzani ukuqonda; lina ziphukuphuku, zuzani ukuqedisisa.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Lalelani ngoba ngilitshela izinto eziqakathekileyo; ngivula izindebe zami ngikhuluma okuqondileyo.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Umlomo wami ukhuluma okuliqiniso, ngoba izindebe zami ziyabenyanya ububi.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami aqondile; kalikho lelilodwa elitshekileyo loba elingcolileyo.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
Kulowo ozwisisayo wonke alungile; akulankohliso kulabo abalolwazi.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Khetha iseluleko sami kulesiliva, ulwazi kulegolide elikhethiweyo,
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
ngoba ukuhlakanipha kuligugu okudlula amarubhi, njalo akulanto ongayifisa ezifisweni zakho okulingana lakho.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
Mina, kuhlakanipha, ngihlala ndawonye lokuqondisisa; ngilolwazi lokukhetha kuhle.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Ukwesaba uThixo yikuzonda ububi; ngiyakuzonda ukuzazisa lobuqholo, ukuziphatha kubi lenkulumo ebolileyo.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
Ukweluleka lokwahlulela okuhle kungokwami; ngilokuzwisisa lamandla.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Amakhosi abusa ngenxa yami lababusi balakho ukutshaya imithetho elungileyo;
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
amakhosana abusa ngami, lazozonke izikhulu ezibusa emhlabeni.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
Ngiyabathanda labo abangithandayo, labo abangidingayo bayangithola.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Kimi kukhona inotho lodumo, inotho engapheliyo lokuphumelela.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
Izithelo zami zingcono kulegolide elicengiweyo; okuphuma kimi kwedlula isiliva sekhethelo.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
Ngihamba ngendlela yokulunga, ngilandela umkhondo wokuqonda,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
ngiyabela inotho kulabo abangithandayo ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
UThixo wangenza ngaba khona ngaqalela konke okukhona, kuqala kokwenza ezinye izinto;
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
ngaba khona ekudabukeni kwezinto, kwasekuqaleni, umhlaba ungakabi khona.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Kungakabi lezilwandle, ngasengizelwe, kungakabi khona izihotsha ezigcwele amanzi;
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
izintaba zingakamiswa ensikeni zazo, engakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe,
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
uThixo engakawenzi umhlaba lamaganga, loba lonke uthuli lomhlaba.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
Ngangikhona uThixo ehlela kuhle izulu, ephawula kuhle imingcele yomkhathi lolwandle,
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
esenza amayezi emkhathini wazizinzisa inziki zolwandle,
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
ebeka imingcele yolwandle ukuze amanzi angedluli izimiso zakhe, ngesikhathi lapho emisa izisekelo zomhlaba.
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
Ngalesosikhathi ngangingumbumbi eceleni kwakhe. Ngangilenjabulo enkulu insuku ngensuku, ngithokoza ukuba laye kokuphela,
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
ngithokoza ngomhlaba wakhe wonke ngijabuliswa yibukhona babantu.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Ngakho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; babusisekile labo abalondoloza izindlela zami.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
Lalelani imfundiso yami ukuze lihlakaniphe; lingaqali ukuyidela.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Ubusisiwe lowomuntu ongilalelayo, olinda imihla yonke eminyango yami, elindile entubeni yami.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
Ngoba lowo ongifumanayo uzuza ukuphila emukeliswe ukuthandwa nguThixo.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
Kodwa lowo owehlulekayo ukungifumana uyazilimaza; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.”
