Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
Ndodana yami, ungakhohlwa umlayo wami, kodwa inhliziyo yakho kayigcine imilayo yami.
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
Ngoba yengezelela kuwe ubude bezinsuku leminyaka yempilo lokuthula.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
Umusa lothembeko kakungakutshiyi, kubophele entanyeni yakho, ukubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ngalokho uzathola umusa lokuqedisisa okuhle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu labantu.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.
Themba eNkosini ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, ungeyami ekuqedisiseni kwakho.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
Ivume endleleni zakho zonke, yona-ke izaqondisa imikhondo yakho.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Ungabi ngohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akho; yesabe iNkosi, usuke ebubini.
8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
Kuzakuba yikwelatshwa kwenkaba yakho, lokunathwayo kwamathambo akho.
9 Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:
Hlonipha iNkosi ngemfuyo yakho, langezithelo zakho zokuqala zesivuno sakho sonke.
10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
Khona iziphala zakho zizagcwaliswa ngenala, lezikhamelo zakho zewayini ziphuphume iwayini elitsha.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Ndodana yami, ungadeleli ukulaya kweNkosi, unganengwa yikukhuza kwayo.
12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
Ngoba iNkosi iyamlaya emthandayo, yebo, njengoyise indodana athokoza ngayo.
13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
Ubusisiwe umuntu othola inhlakanipho, lomuntu ozuza ukuqedisisa.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Ngoba inzuzo yakho ingcono kulenzuzo yesiliva, lokutholakalayo kwakho kulegolide.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.
Kuligugu elidlula amatshe aligugu, lakho konke ongakufisa kakulinganiswa lakho.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.
Ubude bezinsuku busesandleni sakho sokunene, kwesokhohlo sakho inotho lodumo.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Izindlela zakho zizindlela zentokozo, lemikhondo yakho yonke iyikuthula.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that retains her.
Kuyisihlahla sempilo kwabakubambayo, lobambelela kukho ubusisiwe.
19 The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens.
Ngenhlakanipho iNkosi yasekela umhlaba; yamisa amazulu ngokuqedisisa.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Ngolwazi lwayo izinziki zaqhekezwa, lamayezi athonta amazolo.
21 My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Ndodana yami, kakungasuki emehlweni akho; gcina inhlakanipho eqotho lengqondo.
22 So shall they be life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
Njalo kuzakuba yimpilo yomphefumulo wakho, lesisa entanyeni yakho.
23 Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.
Khona uzahamba indlela yakho uvikelekile, lonyawo lwakho kaluyikukhubeka.
24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
Nxa ulala phansi, kawuyikwesaba, yebo, uzalala, lobuthongo bakho buzakuba mnandi.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes.
Ungesabi uvalo olujumayo, kumbe ukuchitheka kwababi nxa kufika.
26 For the LORD shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken.
Ngoba iNkosi izakuba sethembeni lakho, igcine unyawo lwakho ukuze lungabanjwa.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Ungagodleli umninikho okuhle nxa kusemandleni esandla sakho ukukwenza.
28 Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you.
Ungathi kumakhelwane wakho: Hamba, ubuye, kusasa ngizakunika; nxa ulakho.
29 Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you.
Ungacebi okubi ngomakhelwane wakho, ngoba yena uhlala lawe evikelekile.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.
Ungaphikisani lomuntu kungelasizatho, nxa engakonanga.
31 Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Ungahawukeli umuntu olobudlwangudlwangu; ungakhethi leyodwa yezindlela zakhe.
32 For the fraudulent is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
Ngoba ophambeneyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa imfihlo yayo ikwabaqotho.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just.
Isiqalekiso seNkosi sisendlini yomubi, kodwa iyawubusisa umuzi wabalungileyo.
34 Surely he scorns the scorners: but he gives grace to the lowly.
Isibili, yona iyabeyisa abeyisayo, kodwa inika umusa kwabathobekileyo.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Abahlakaniphileyo bazakudla ilifa lodumo, kodwa abayizithutha, isabelo sabo silihlazo.
