Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Amazwi enkosi uLemuweli, amazwi enhlakanipho awafundiswa ngunina:
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
Oh, ndodana yami! Oh ndodana yethumbu lami! Oh, ndodana yezifungo zami,
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
ungadlalisi amandla akho ebafazini, izifutho zakho kulabo abadiliza amakhosi.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
Kakusikho kwamakhosi, bakithi Lemuweli kakusikho kwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kakusikho kwababusi ukunxwanela utshwala,
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
funa badakwe bakhohlwe izimiso zomthetho, behluleke ukumisela kuhle abahluphekayo amalungelo abo.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Phana utshwala kulabo abavele sebezifele, iwayini kulabo abalosizi olukhulu;
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
kabanathe bakhohlwe ubuyanga babo bakhohlwe nya usizi lwabo.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
Bamele labo abehlulekayo ukuzikhulumela, uwamele amalungelo alabo abangelalutho.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Khuluma njalo wahlulele ngokulunga; alwele amalungelo abayanga labaswelayo.
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Ngubani na ongathola umfazi olesimilo? Uligugu elidlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
Indoda yakhe iyamthemba ngokupheleleyo njalo kayisweli lutho oluqakathekileyo.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
Uyenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, empilweni yakhe yonke.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Uyakhetha kuhle iwulu lesikusha akweluke kuhle ngezandla ezikhutheleyo.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
Unjengemikhumbi yabathengisi, eletha ukudla okuvela kude.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Uvuka ekuseni kusesemnyama; alungisele abomuzi wakhe ukudla abele lezincekukazi zakhe.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
Uyayihlolisisa insimu mandulo kokuyithenga; ngalokho akuzuzayo uyahlanyela isivini sakhe.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
Uwubamba ngokukhuthala umsebenzi wakhe; aqinise izingalo zakhe emsebenzini.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kulenzuzo, lokuthi isibane sakhe kasicimi ebusuku.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Uphatha uluthi lokuphotha ngesandla sakhe abesebamba ngeminwe yakhe isigudugudu sokweluka.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Welulela izandla zakhe kubayanga njalo ulezandla ezilula kwabaswelayo.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
Lapho kukhithika ungqwaqwane, kalakwesaba ngabendlu yakhe; ngoba bonke bagqoke ezibomvu.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Wendlala amalembu ombheda wakhe; agqoke ilineni elihle lezigqoko eziyibubende.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Indoda yakhe iyahlonitshwa enkundleni lapho efika ihlale khona ndawonye labadala belizwe.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Uthunga izigqoko zelineni azithengise, abathengi bemigaxo bayizuza kuye.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Wembethe amandla lesithunzi; uyahleka loba kusiza insuku ezimbi.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Ukhuluma ngenhlakanipho, lezeluleko eziqondileyo zisolimini lwakhe.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
Unqinekela ezomuzi wakhe njalo kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Abantwabakhe bayambonga bathi ubusisiwe; lendoda yakhe layo iyamdumisa ithi,
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
“Banengi abafazi abenza izimangaliso zobuhle, kodwa wena uyabedlula bonke.”
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Ukubukeka kuyakhohlisa, lobuhle buyaphela; kodwa umfazi owesaba uThixo kadunyiswe.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Kaphiwe umvuzo wobuhle abenzayo, imisebenzi yakhe imlethele udumo enkundleni.
