Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Zwanini, bantwana, umlayo kayihlo, linanzelele ukuze lazi ukuqedisisa.
2 for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
Ngoba ngilinika imfundiso enhle, lingawutshiyi umlayo wami.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Ngoba bengiyindodana kababa, ngithambile, ngingedwa phambi kukamama.
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
Wasengifundisa wathi kimi: Inhliziyo yakho kayibambelele emazwini ami; gcina imilayo yami, uphile.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, and do not deviate from the words of my mouth.
Zuza inhlakanipho, uzuze ukuqedisisa, ungakhohlwa; ungaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Ungakutshiyi, njalo kuzakulondoloza; ukuthande, njalo kuzakulinda.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Okokuqala yinhlakanipho; zuza inhlakanipho; langenzuzo yakho yonke uzuze ukuqedisisa.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
Kukhulise, njalo kuzakuphakamisa; kuzakunika udumo nxa ukugona.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Kuzanika ikhanda lakho umqhele womusa; kuzakulethela umqhele wodumo.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Zwana, ndodana yami, wemukele amazwi ami, leminyaka yempilo izakuba minengi kuwe.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Ngikufundisile endleleni yenhlakanipho; ngikwenze wanyathela emikhondweni yobuqotho.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Ekuhambeni kwakho inyathelo lakho kaliyikufinyezwa, njalo nxa ugijima kawuyikukhubeka.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Bambelela ekulayweni, ungakuyekeli; kugcine, ngoba kuyimpilo yakho.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
Ungangeni emkhondweni wabakhohlakeleyo, ungahambi endleleni yababi.
15 Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Iyekele, ungedluli ngayo, phambuka kuyo, wedlule.
16 For they do not sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Ngoba kabalali uba bengenzanga okubi; lobuthongo babo buyasuswa uba bengakhubekisanga muntu.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Ngoba badla isinkwa senkohlakalo, banathe iwayini lobudlwangudlwangu.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Kodwa indlela yabalungileyo injengokukhanya okukhanyayo, kuqhubeka kukhanya kuze kube semini enkulu.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
Indlela yababi injengomnyama; kabazi ukuthi bazakhutshwa yini.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Ndodana yami, lalela amazwi ami, ubeke indlebe yakho ekukhulumeni kwami.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
Kakungaphunyuki emehlweni akho; ukugcine phakathi kwenhliziyo yakho.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
Ngoba kuyimpilo kwabakutholayo, lempilo enhle yenyama yabo yonke.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Gcina inhliziyo yakho phezu kwakho konke okungagcinwa, ngoba kuvela kikho ukuphuma kwempilo.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Susa kuwe ukuphambana komlomo, lokuphambeka kwendebe kususele khatshana lawe.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Amehlo akho kawakhangele phambili, lenkophe zakho ziqonde phambi kwakho.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Linganisa umkhondo wonyawo lwakho, ukuze zonke indlela zakho ziqine.
27 Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Ungaphambukeli ngakwesokunene kumbe ngakwesokhohlo; uphambule unyawo lwakho ebubini.
