Izaga 22
1 Ibizo elihle likhethekile kulenotho enengi; isisa esihle kulesiliva njalo kulegolide.
A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.
2 Onothileyo lomyanga bayahlangana; iNkosi yabenza bonke.
The rich and the poor meet together; but the Lord made them both.
3 Ohlakaniphileyo ubona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka babesebejeziswa.
An intelligent man seeing a bad man severely punished is himself instructed, but fools pass by and are punished.
4 Umvuzo wokuthobeka lokwesaba iNkosi kuyinotho lodumo lempilo.
The fear of the Lord is the offspring of wisdom, and wealth, and glory, and life.
5 Ameva lemijibila kusendleleni yabaphambeneyo; ogcina umphefumulo wakhe uzakuba khatshana labo.
Thistles and snares are in perverse ways; but he that keeps his soul will refrain from them.
6 Fundisa umntwana endleleni angahamba ngayo; ngitsho esemdala kayikuphambuka kuyo.
7 Onothileyo ubusa abayanga, lomeboleki uyisigqili somebolekisi.
The rich will rule over the poor, and servants will lend to their own masters.
8 Ohlanyela ukonakala uzavuna ukuhlupheka, lentonga yolaka lwakhe izaphela.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but [a man] shall fully prove the folly of his works.
9 Olelihlo elilokuhle yena uzabusiswa, ngoba unikile okwesinkwa sakhe kumyanga.
He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory an honour; but he takes away the life of them that posses [them].
10 Xotsha isideleli, kuzaphuma lenkani, yebo, ingxabano lehlazo kuzaphela.
Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.
11 Othanda ukuhlanzeka kwenhliziyo, ngenxa yesisa sendebe zakhe, inkosi ingumgane wakhe.
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.
12 Amehlo eNkosi alondoloza ulwazi, kodwa izachitha amazwi abangathembekanga.
But the eyes of the Lord preserve discretion; but the transgressor despises [wise] words.
13 Ivila lithi: Kulesilwane ngaphandle; ngizabulawa phakathi kwezitalada.
The sluggard makes excuses, and says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and murderers in the streets.
14 Umlomo wabesifazana bemzini ungumgodi otshonayo; lowo iNkosi emthukutheleleyo uzawela khona.
The mouth of a transgressor is a deep pit; and he that is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.
15 Ubuthutha bubotshelwe enhliziyweni yomntwana; uswazi lokuqondisa luzabususela khatshana laye.
Folly is attached to the heart of a child, but the rod and instruction are [then] far from him.
16 Ocindezela umyanga ukwandisa alakho, opha onothileyo, isibili uzakuba ngoswelayo.
He that oppresses the poor, increases his own substance, yet gives to the rich so as to make it less.
17 Beka indlebe yakho, uzwe amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, umise inhliziyo yakho elwazini lami.
Incline your ear to the words of wise men: hear also my word, and apply your heart,
18 Ngoba kumnandi uba uwalondoloza emibilini yakho; azahlala elungile kanyekanye endebeni zakho.
that you may know that they are good: and if you lay them to heart, they shall also gladden you on your lips.
19 Ukuze ithemba lakho libe seNkosini, ngikwazisile wona lamuhla, ngitsho wena.
That your hope may be in the Lord, and he may make your way known to you.
20 Kangikubhalelanga yini izinto ezinhle kakhulu kuzeluleko lelwazini?
And do you too repeatedly record them for yourself on the table of your heart, for counsel and knowledge.
21 Ukukwazisa ukuqiniseka kwamazwi eqiniso, ukuze ubuyisele amazwi eqiniso kulabo abakuthumileyo.
I therefore teach you truth, and knowledge good to hear; that you may answer words of truth to them that question you.
22 Ungamphangi umyanga ngoba engumyanga, njalo ungamchobozi oswelayo esangweni.
Do no violence to the poor, for he is needy: neither dishonour the helpless [man] in the gates.
23 Ngoba iNkosi izamela udaba lwabo, iphange umphefumulo wababaphangayo.
For the Lord will plead his cause, and you shall deliver your soul in safety.
24 Ungahlanganyeli lomuntu ololaka, ungahambisani lomuntu othukuthelayo,
Be not companion to a furious man; neither lodge with a passionate man:
25 hlezi ufunde indlela zakhe, wemukele umjibila emphefumulweni wakho.
lest you learn of his ways, and get snares to your soul.
26 Ungabi phakathi kwababambana izandla, phakathi kwabayizibambiso ngezikwelede.
Become not surety from respect of a man's person.
27 Uba ungelakho okokuhlawula, kungani ezathatha umbheda wakho ngaphansi kwakho?
For if those have not whence to give compensation, they will take the bed [that is] under you.
28 Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele, oyihlo abasenzayo.
Remove not the old landmarks, which your fathers placed.
29 Uyambona yini umuntu oyingcitshi emsebenzini wakhe? Uzazimisa phambi kwamakhosi; kayikuzimisa phambi kwabantukazana.
It is fit that an observant man and [one] diligent in his business should attend on kings, and not attend on slothful men.
