Proverbs 8
1 Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
Ukuhlakanipha kakumemezi yini? Ukuqedisisa kakuphakamisi ilizwi lakho na?
2 On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
Emiqolweni yezindlela, emahlanganweni ezindlela kulapho okujame khona;
3 Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
emasangweni angena phakathi kwedolobho, ezintubeni kuyamemeza kakhulu kusithi:
4 “I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
“Ngimemeza lina, madoda; ilizwi lami libiza bonke abantu.
5 If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
Lina eliyizithutha, zuzani ukuqonda; lina ziphukuphuku, zuzani ukuqedisisa.
6 Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
Lalelani ngoba ngilitshela izinto eziqakathekileyo; ngivula izindebe zami ngikhuluma okuqondileyo.
7 I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
Umlomo wami ukhuluma okuliqiniso, ngoba izindebe zami ziyabenyanya ububi.
8 All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
Wonke amazwi omlomo wami aqondile; kalikho lelilodwa elitshekileyo loba elingcolileyo.
9 My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
Kulowo ozwisisayo wonke alungile; akulankohliso kulabo abalolwazi.
10 Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
Khetha iseluleko sami kulesiliva, ulwazi kulegolide elikhethiweyo,
11 For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
ngoba ukuhlakanipha kuligugu okudlula amarubhi, njalo akulanto ongayifisa ezifisweni zakho okulingana lakho.
12 I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
Mina, kuhlakanipha, ngihlala ndawonye lokuqondisisa; ngilolwazi lokukhetha kuhle.
13 Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
Ukwesaba uThixo yikuzonda ububi; ngiyakuzonda ukuzazisa lobuqholo, ukuziphatha kubi lenkulumo ebolileyo.
14 I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
Ukweluleka lokwahlulela okuhle kungokwami; ngilokuzwisisa lamandla.
15 It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
Amakhosi abusa ngenxa yami lababusi balakho ukutshaya imithetho elungileyo;
16 It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
amakhosana abusa ngami, lazozonke izikhulu ezibusa emhlabeni.
17 I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
Ngiyabathanda labo abangithandayo, labo abangidingayo bayangithola.
18 With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
Kimi kukhona inotho lodumo, inotho engapheliyo lokuphumelela.
19 The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
Izithelo zami zingcono kulegolide elicengiweyo; okuphuma kimi kwedlula isiliva sekhethelo.
20 I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
Ngihamba ngendlela yokulunga, ngilandela umkhondo wokuqonda,
21 I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
ngiyabela inotho kulabo abangithandayo ngigcwalise iziphala zabo.
22 The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
UThixo wangenza ngaba khona ngaqalela konke okukhona, kuqala kokwenza ezinye izinto;
23 I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
ngaba khona ekudabukeni kwezinto, kwasekuqaleni, umhlaba ungakabi khona.
24 I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
Kungakabi lezilwandle, ngasengizelwe, kungakabi khona izihotsha ezigcwele amanzi;
25 I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
izintaba zingakamiswa ensikeni zazo, engakabi khona amaqaqa, ngasengizelwe,
26 when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
uThixo engakawenzi umhlaba lamaganga, loba lonke uthuli lomhlaba.
27 I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
Ngangikhona uThixo ehlela kuhle izulu, ephawula kuhle imingcele yomkhathi lolwandle,
28 when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
esenza amayezi emkhathini wazizinzisa inziki zolwandle,
29 when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
ebeka imingcele yolwandle ukuze amanzi angedluli izimiso zakhe, ngesikhathi lapho emisa izisekelo zomhlaba.
30 Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
Ngalesosikhathi ngangingumbumbi eceleni kwakhe. Ngangilenjabulo enkulu insuku ngensuku, ngithokoza ukuba laye kokuphela,
31 I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
ngithokoza ngomhlaba wakhe wonke ngijabuliswa yibukhona babantu.
32 And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
Ngakho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; babusisekile labo abalondoloza izindlela zami.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
Lalelani imfundiso yami ukuze lihlakaniphe; lingaqali ukuyidela.
34 Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
Ubusisiwe lowomuntu ongilalelayo, olinda imihla yonke eminyango yami, elindile entubeni yami.
35 For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
Ngoba lowo ongifumanayo uzuza ukuphila emukeliswe ukuthandwa nguThixo.
36 But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
Kodwa lowo owehlulekayo ukungifumana uyazilimaza; bonke abangizondayo bathanda ukufa.”
