Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
Nxa uhlalela ukudla lesiphathamandla, qaphelisa lokuqaphelisa okuphambi kwakho.
2 and cut down if you have a big appetite.
Ubeke ingqamu emphinjeni wakho uba uyisiminzi.
3 Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
Ungafisi izibondlo zaso, ngoba ziyikudla kwamanga.
4 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
Ungatshikatshikeli ukunotha; pheza ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
5 It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
Uzandizisa yini amehlo akho kokungekho? Ngoba kuzazenzela lokuzenzela izimpiko njengokhozi oluphaphela emazulwini.
6 Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
Ungadli ukudla kolelihlo elibi, ungafisi izibondlo 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 njengoba ecabangile emphefumulweni wakhe, unjalo. Uzakuthi: Dlana unathe; kodwa inhliziyo yakhe kayilawe.
8 You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
Ucezu oludlileyo uzaluhlanza, wone amazwi akho amnandi.
9 Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
Ungakhulumi endlebeni zoyisithutha, ngoba uzadelela inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.
10 Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
Ungatshedisi isikhonkwane esidala somngcele; ungangeni emasimini ezintandane;
11 for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla; yena uzamela udaba lwazo kuwe.
12 Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
Beka inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni, lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.
13 Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
Ungagodleli umntwana isijeziso; nxa umtshaya ngoswazi kayikufa.
Wena uzamtshaya ngoswazi, ukhulule umphefumulo wakhe esihogweni. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
Ndodana yami, uba inhliziyo yakho ihlakanipha, inhliziyo yami izathokoza, yebo eyami;
16 I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
lezinso zami zizajabula ekukhulumeni kwendebe zakho izinto eziqondileyo.
17 Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
Inhliziyo yakho kayingahawukeli izoni; kodwa bana ekwesabeni iNkosi lonke usuku.
18 for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
Ngoba isibili kukhona umvuzo, lomlindelo wakho kawuyikuqunywa.
19 Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
Lalela wena, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe, uqondise inhliziyo yakho endleleni.
20 Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
Ungabi phakathi kwabanathi bewayini, phakathi kwezihwaba zenyama.
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 isidakwa lesihwaba sizakuba ngumyanga, lokuwozela kugqokisa amadabudabu.
22 Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
Lalela uyihlo owakuzalayo, ungamdeleli unyoko esemdala.
23 Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Thenga iqiniso, ungalithengisi; inhlakanipho, lemfundiso, lokuqedisisa.
24 Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
Uyise wolungileyo uzathaba lokuthaba; lozala ohlakaniphileyo uzathokoza ngaye.
25 Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
Uyihlo lonyoko kabathokoze, lokuzeleyo kathabe.
26 My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
Ndodana yami, ngiphe inhliziyo yakho, lamehlo akho kawananzelele indlela zami.
27 A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
Ngoba iwule lingumgodi otshonayo, lowesifazana owemzini ungumthombo ongumcingo.
28 Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
Laye ucathama njengomphangi, andise abangathembekanga phakathi kwabantu.
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 olo: Maye? Ngubani olo: Wo? Ngubani olenkani? Ngubani olesililo? Ngubani olamanxeba ngeze? Ngubani olamehlo abomvu?
30 —those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
Yilabo abalibala ewayinini, yilabo abazedinga iwayini elixutshanisiweyo.
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.
Ungakhangeli iwayini, lapho lizibonakalisa libomvu, nxa linika umbala walo enkomitshini, lihamba liqondile.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
Ekucineni kwalo liluma njengenyoka, lilume njengebululu.
33 You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
Amehlo akho azabona abesifazana bemzini, lenhliziyo yakho ikhulume izinto eziphambeneyo.
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,
Yebo, uzakuba njengolala enhliziyweni yolwandle, lanjengolala esihlokweni 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.”
Bangitshayile, kangizwanga buhlungu; bangidutshuzile, kangikunanzanga. Ngizavuka nini? Ngiphinde ngilidinge futhi.
