Proverbs 3
1 My son, don't forget my instructions. Always keep my commands in mind.
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa imfundiso yami, kodwa ugcine imilayo yami enhliziyweni yakho,
2 Then you will live a long time, and have a full life.
ngoba izakwandisa impilo yakho okweminyaka eminengi, ikuphe ukuthula.
3 Hold on to kindness and truth. Tie them around your neck; write them in your mind.
Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando lokuthembeka; kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale egwalibeni lenhliziyo yakho.
4 That way you'll gain a good reputation and be appreciated by both God and people.
Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze ibizo elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.
5 Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!
Themba kuThixo ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungathembi ekuzwisiseni kwakho;
6 Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.
mvume kuzozonke izindlela zakho, yena uzaqondisa zonke izindlela zakho.
7 Don't think you're wise—respect God and avoid evil.
Ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwakho; yesaba uThixo uxwaye okubi.
8 Then you will have healed and be made strong.
Lokho kuzawuphilisa umzimba wakho kuwaqinise lamathambo akho.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.
Dumisa uThixo ngenotho yakho; ngezithelo zakho zokuqala zonke;
10 Then your barns will be filled with produce, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
ngalokho iziphala zakho zizagcwala ziphuphume, lezimbiza zakho zewayini zize zichitheke ngewayini elitsha.
11 My son, don't reject the Lord's discipline or resent it when he corrects you,
Ndodana yami, ungeyisi ukulaya kukaThixo njalo ungacaphukeli ukukhuza kwakhe,
12 for the Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son who pleases him.
ngoba uThixo ulaya labo abathandayo, njengoyise elaya indodana yakhe ayithandayo.
13 Happy are those who find wisdom and gain understanding,
Ubusisiwe umuntu ozuza ukuhlakanipha, umuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa,
14 for wisdom is worth more than silver, and pays better than gold.
ngoba khona kulenzuzo eyedlula isiliva lenzuzo eyedlula igolide.
15 She is more valuable than rubies—everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
Kuligugu elidlula amarubhi; kakukho okuloyisayo okungalinganiswa lakho.
16 She offers long life in one hand, and riches and honor in the other.
Impilo ende isesandleni sakho sokunene; kwesokhohlo kulenotho lodumo.
17 She brings true happiness, and leads to peaceful prosperity.
Izindlela zakhe zilokuthokoza, lemikhondo yakhe ilokuthula.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who embraces her, blessing those who accept her.
Kuyisihlahla sokuphila kulabo abakwamukelayo; labo abakuphathayo bazabusiswa.
19 It was through wisdom that the Lord created the earth, and through understanding he set the heavens in place.
Ngokuhlakanipha uThixo wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo;
20 It was through his knowledge the waters of the deep were broken open, and the clouds sent down the dew.
ngolwazi lwakhe inlwandle zehlukaniswa, lamayezi athontisa amazolo.
21 My son, hold on to good judgment and wise decisions—don't let them out of your sight,
Ndodana yami, gogosa ingqondo ehlela ngolwazi, ungayekeli kukucatshele;
22 for they will be life to you, and an ornament for your neck.
kuzakuba yikuphila kuwe, kube ngumceciso omuhle entanyeni yakho.
23 You will be able to walk confidently on your way, and you won't trip up.
Lapho-ke uzahamba ngendlela evikelweyo unyawo lwakho lungakhubeki;
24 When you rest, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
nxa ulala kawuyikwesaba; uzalala ubuthongo obumnandi.
25 You won't be afraid of a sudden panic, or of disasters that hit the wicked,
Ungabi lovalo nxa ujunywa ngumonakalo kumbe yikubhidlika lokho okwehlela ababi,
26 for the Lord will be the one you can trust in, and he will prevent you being caught in a trap.
ngoba uThixo uzakuba lithemba lakho avikele unyawo lwakho emjibileni.
27 Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.
Ungaze wala ukusiza labo abadinga uncedo, wena ulakho ongabasiza ngakho.
28 Don't tell your neighbor, “Go away. Come back tomorrow and then I'll give it to you,” when you've already got it.
Ungabokuthi kumakhelwane wakho: “Ubobuya kwesinye isikhathi; ngizakunika kusasa” wena ulalo lololutho.
29 Don't plan to harm your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ohlezi lawe ekwethemba.
30 Don't quarrel with anybody for no reason, when they haven't done anything to hurt you.
Ungaxabani lomuntu kungelasizatho yena engakonelanga ngalutho.
31 Don't be jealous of violent people—don't choose to follow their example!
Ungamhawukeli umuntu othanda ukulwa loba nje ufise lakuphi ukwenza kwakhe,
32 For the Lord hates deceitful people, but he is a friend to those who do what is good.
ngoba uThixo uyamenyanya umuntu oxhwalileyo kodwa oqotho umbeka ekhwapheni lakhe.
33 The houses of the wicked are cursed by the Lord, but he blesses the homes of those who live right.
Isiqalekiso sikaThixo sehlela endlini yababi, kodwa uyayibusisa indlu yabalungileyo.
34 He mocks those who mock, but he is kind to the humble.
Uyabahleka usulu abayizideleli ezizithembayo, kodwa abe lomusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise will receive honor, but fools are held up in disgrace.
Abahlakaniphileyo baphiwa udumo kodwa abayiziwula ubathela ihlazo.
