Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What will you keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to you: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Give not your wealth to women, nor your mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Open your mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Open your mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
For she employs all her living for her husband's good.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and [appointed] tasks to her maidens.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She reaches forth her arms to needful [works], and applies her hands to the spindle.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
And her husband becomes a distinguished [person] in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
She puts on strength and honor; and rejoices in the last days.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
And [her] kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but you have exceeded, you have surpassed all.
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
