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