Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi, nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho; hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele, ngoba ngempela izamila impiko iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo, ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
7 for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko. Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,” kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Ungakhulumi lesithutha ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana; ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
Mjezise ngoswazi ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile, inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
ingaphakathi yami izajabula lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni, kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho, lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini labazitika ngenyama,
21 For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga, ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni, njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi; zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu; lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza; sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho, amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Uyacathamela njengesigebenga, andise amadoda angathembekanga.
29 Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi? Ngubani olosizi na? Ngubani otshingayo? Ngubani olensolo na? Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze? Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Yilabo abalibala ngewayini, abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
31 Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu, nxa likhazimula enkomitshini, lapho lisehla kamnandi!
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
34 You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle, olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35 “People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga! Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu! Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”
