Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba; ukuba bazwisise amazwi okuqedisisa;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho, besenza okulungileyo, okufaneleyo lokuqondileyo;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha, ulwazi lokukhetha okuqondileyo kwabatsha
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe, kuthi obonisisayo azuze izeluleko,
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso, izitsho lamalibho abahlakaniphileyo.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, kodwa iziwula ziyakweyisa ukuqedisisa lokuzithiba.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo njalo ungadeli imfundiso kanyoko.
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho lomgaxo wokucecisa intamo yakho.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga, ungaze wavuma.
11 If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe; kasicathamele abantu sichithe igazi, kasicwathele omunye umuntu ongelacala;
12 Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
kasibaginye bephila njengengcwaba, sibajwamule njengabawele emgodini; (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango;
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
phathisana lathi ukuze sibelesikhwama sinye”
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo, ungalugxobi olwakho ezindleleni zazo;
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni, bachitha igazi lula.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule lithe dandalazi emehlweni ezinyoni!
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi; bajuma okwabo ukuphila.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga; kuyayichitha impilo yalabo abayitholayo.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni, kuphakamisa ilizwi lakho ezinkundleni;
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona, kuyatshumayela emasangweni omuzi kuthi:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
“Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na? Koze kube nini izideleli zikholisa ukudelela leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi na?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke! Ngizalivulela isifuba sami, ngilivezele imicabango yami.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza, kwangabi khona onginanzayo ngiselula isandla sami,
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
njengoba lala izeluleko zami njalo kalavuma ukukhuza kwami,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka; ngizaliklolodela nxa lisehlelwa lusizi,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho; nxa incithakalo ilikhukhula njengesivunguzane, nxa usizi lezinhlupheko ziligabhela.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidinga bangangitholi.
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi kabaze bakhetha ukwesaba uThixo
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami, badelela ukukhuza kwami,
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo basuthiswe ngezithelo zamacebo abo.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala, lokungananzi kweziphukuphuku kuzazibhubhisa;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile, engesabi lutho olungamlimaza.”
