Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
Izaga zikaSolomoni, indodana kaDavida, inkosi yakoIsrayeli;
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
ukwazi inhlakanipho lokulaywa, ukuqedisisa amazwi okuqedisisa,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
ukwemukela ukulaya kwenhlakanipho, ukulunga, lesahlulelo, lokuqonda;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
ukunika abangelalwazi inhlakanipho, ijaha ulwazi lengqondo.
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
Ohlakaniphileyo uzakuzwa, andise ukufunda, loqedisisayo uzazuza izeluleko,
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
ukuqedisisa isaga lomzekeliso, amazwi abahlakaniphileyo, lamalibho abo.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Ukwesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kolwazi; izithutha ziyadelela inhlakanipho lokulaywa.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Ndodana yami, zwana ukulaya kukayihlo, ungawudeli umlayo kanyoko;
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
ngoba kuzakuba ngumqhele womusa ekhanda lakho, lemigaxo entanyeni yakho.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
Ndodana yami, uba izoni zikuhuga, ungavumi.
11 If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Uba zisithi: Hamba lathi, siyecathamela igazi, sicatshele ongelacala kungelasizatho;
12 Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
sibaginye bephila njengengcwaba, yebo, ngokupheleleyo, njengabehlela egodini. (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
Sizathola yonke impahla eligugu, sigcwalise izindlu zethu ngempango.
14 You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—
Phosela inkatho yakho phakathi kwethu; sonke sibe lesikhwama semali sinye.
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
Ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo endleleni; unqande unyawo lwakho emkhondweni wazo.
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
Ngoba inyawo zazo zigijimela ebubini, ziphangisa ukuchitha igazi.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
Isibili, imbule lendlalelwa ize phambi kwamehlo aloba yiyiphi inyoni.
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Lalaba bacathamela igazi labo, bacatshele imiphefumulo yabo.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Zinjalo indlela zakhe wonke ozuza inzuzo ngokuphanga; ithatha impilo yabaniniyo.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
UkuHlakanipha kuyamemeza ngaphandle, kukhupha ilizwi lakho emidangeni.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
Kuyamemeza endaweni eqakathekileyo yokuxokozela, ekungeneni kwamasango; emzini kutsho amazwi akho,
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
kusithi: Koze kube nini, lina elingelalwazi, lithanda ukungabi lalwazi, labaklolodayo bezifisela ukukloloda, leziphukuphuku zizonda ulwazi?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Phendukelani ekukhuzeni kwami; khangelani, ngizathululela umoya wami kini, ngilazise amazwi ami.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Ngoba ngibizile, kodwa lala; ngelulile isandla sami, kodwa kakho onanzayo;
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
ladelela sonke iseluleko sami, kalivumanga ukukhuza kwami;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
mina-ke ngizahleka ukuchitheka kwenu, ngiklolode ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
ekufikeni kokwesaba kwenu njengesiphepho, lokuchitheka kwenu kufika njengesivunguzane, lapho ubuhlungu losizi kulehlela.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
Khona bazangibiza, kodwa kangiyikusabela; bazangidingisisa, kodwa kabayikungithola.
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
Ngenxa yokuthi babezonda ulwazi, bengakhethanga ukwesaba iNkosi.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
Kabavumanga iseluleko sami, bedelela konke ukukhuza kwami.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
Ngakho bazakudla okwesithelo sendlela yabo, basuthiswe ngamacebo abo.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Ngoba ukuhlehla kwabangelalwazi kuzababulala, lokonwaba kweziphukuphuku kuzababhubhisa.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Kodwa ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile, onwabe ekwesabeni okubi.
