Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do [him] good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
