Izaga 31
1 Amazwi kaLemuweli inkosi yeMasa, unina amfundisa wona.
The words of King Lemuel—an instruction his mother taught him.
2 Ini, ndodana yami! Ini-ke, ndodana yesizalo sami! Ini-ke, ndodana yezithembiso zami!
What, my son? What is it, son of my womb? What do you want, son of my vows?
3 Unganiki amandla akho kwabesifazana, kumbe izindlela zakho ekubhubhiseni amakhosi.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.
4 Kakusikwamakhosi, Lemuweli, kakusikwamakhosi ukunatha iwayini, kumbe okweziphathamandla ukuloyisa okunathwayo okulamandla.
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5 Hlezi anathe, akhohlwe isimiso, aguqule isahlulelo sawo wonke amadodana enhlupheko.
because when they drink they forget what has been decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Phana okunathwayo okulamandla kobhubhayo, lewayini kwabababayo emphefumulweni.
Give strong drink to a person who is perishing and wine to those in bitter distress.
7 Kanathe, akhohlwe ubuyanga bakhe, angabe esakhumbula usizi lwakhe.
He will drink and he will forget his poverty and he will not remember his trouble.
8 Vulela isimungulu umlomo wakho, udaba lwabo bonke abamiselwe incithakalo.
Speak for those who cannot speak, for the causes of all who are perishing.
9 Vula umlomo wakho, wahlulele ngokulunga, umele ilungelo lomyanga loswelayo.
Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right and plead the cause of poor and needy people.
10 Ngubani ongathola umfazi okhuthela okulungileyo? Ngoba intengo yakhe iyedlula kakhulu amatshe amahle.
Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than jewels.
11 Inhliziyo yomkakhe ithemba kuye, ukuze angasweli impango.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never be poor.
12 Umenzela okuhle, hatshi okubi, insuku zonke zempilo yakhe.
She does good things for him and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Udinga uboya bezimvu lefilakisi, asebenze ngenjabulo yezandla zakhe.
She selects wool and flax, and works with the delight of her hands.
14 Ufanana lemikhumbi yomthengisi; uletha ukudla kwakhe kuvela khatshana.
She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from far away.
15 Uvuka kusesebusuku, anike indlu yakhe ukudla, lesabelo kuzincekukazi zakhe.
She rises while it is night and gives food to her household, and she distributes the work for her female servants.
16 Anakane ngensimu ayizuze; ngesithelo sezandla zakhe ahlanyele ivini.
She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 Uyabhinca ukhalo lwakhe ngamandla, aqinise ingalo zakhe.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 Uyananzelela ukuthi ukuthengisa kwakhe kuhle; isibane sakhe kasicitshi ebusuku.
She perceives what will make a good profit for her; all night long her lamp is not extinguished.
19 Welulela izandla zakhe kuluthi lokuphotha, lezandla zakhe zibambe isigodo esilezintambo.
She puts her hands on the spindle, and she holds the twisting thread.
20 Welulela umyanga isandla sakhe, elulele izandla zakhe koswelayo.
She reaches out with her hand to poor people; she reaches out with her hands to needy people.
21 Kesabi iliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngenxa yabendlu yakhe, ngoba bonke abendlu yakhe bagqokiswe okubomvu.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 Uzenzela izembeso; isigqoko sakhe sililembu elicolekileyo leliyibubende.
She makes coverings for her bed, and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.
23 Umkakhe uyaziwa emasangweni, lapho ehlezi labadala belizwe.
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.
24 Wenza ilembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, alithengise; anike umthengi ibhanti.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and she supplies sashes to the merchants.
25 Amandla lodumo kuyisigqoko sakhe; uyahleka mayelana losuku olulandelayo.
She is clothed with strength and honor, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 Uvula umlomo wakhe ngenhlakanipho; lemfundiso yomusa iselimini lwakhe.
She opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 Uqaphela inhambo zomuzi wakhe; kadli isinkwa sobuvila.
She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Abantwana bakhe bayavuka bathi ubusisiwe, lomkakhe laye uyamdumisa:
Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her, saying,
29 Manengi amadodakazi enze ngenkuthalo, kodwa wena wenyukile phezu kwawo wonke.
“Many women have done well, but you surpassed them all.”
30 Ubuhle buyinkohliso, lokubukeka kuyize; owesifazana owesaba iNkosi yena uzadunyiswa.
Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.
31 Mnikeni okuvela esithelweni sezandla zakhe, lemisebenzi yakhe kayimdumise emasangweni.
Give her the fruit of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.
