Proverbs 23

1Nxa uhlala phansi usidla lombusi,
nanzelela ukuthi kuyini okuphambi kwakho,
2ungazifaki ingqamu entanyeni
nxa uhugwa yibuhwaba.
3Ungahawukeli izibiliboco zakhe
ngoba lokho kudla kuyakhohlisa.

4Ungazihlukuluzi uzigugise ngomsebenzi uzama inotho;
hlakanipha wazi ukuzikhuza.
5Ungayibona manje inotho, masinyane isinyamalele,
ngoba ngempela izamila impiko
iphaphele emkhathini njengengqungqulu.

6Ungakudli ukudla komuntu oncitshanayo,
ungazihawukeli izibiliboco zakhe;
7ngoba yena uhlezi ebalisa ngendleko.
Angathi kuwe, “Dlana unathe,”
kodwa kungasuki enhliziyweni yakhe.
8Uzakuhlanza okuncane lokho okudlileyo
ube udlalise amazwi akho okubonga.
9Ungakhulumi lesithutha
ngoba sizakweyisa inhlakanipho yamazwi akho.

10Ungasusi ilitshe lakudala elomngcele
loba uzithathele amasimu ezintandane,
11ngoba uMhlengi wazo ulamandla;
uzakuba ngumeli wazo aphikisane lawe.

12Nikela inhliziyo yakho ekufundisweni
lezindlebe zakho emazwini olwazi.

13Ungayekeli ukumlaya umntwana;
ukumtshaya ngoswazi akuyikumbulala.
14Mjezise ngoswazi
ukuze uphephise umphefumulo wakhe ekufeni.

15Ndodana yami, aluba inhliziyo yakho ihlakaniphile,
inhliziyo yami layo izathokoza;
16ingaphakathi yami izajabula
lapho izindebe zakho zikhuluma okulungileyo.
17Inhliziyo yakho mayingahawukeli izoni,
kodwa hlala utshisekela ukwesaba uThixo.
18Ngeqiniso lihle ikusasa lakho,
lethemba lakho kaliyikucitshwa.

19Lalela, ndodana yami, uhlakaniphe,
ubeke inhliziyo yakho endleleni elungileyo.
20Ungahlangani leziminzi zewayini
labazitika ngenyama,
21ngoba izidakwa lezihwaba ziba ngabayanga,
ukuwozela kwazo kuzembese amadabudabu.

22Lalela uyihlo owakuletha emhlabeni,
njalo ungeyisi unyoko nxa eseluphele.
23Thenga iqiniso ungalithengisi;
zuza ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.
24Uyise womuntu olungileyo uyathokoza kakhulu;
lowo olendodana ehlakaniphileyo uyathokoza ngayo.
25Sengathi uyihlo lonyoko bangathokoza;
sengathi lowo owakuzalayo angajabula!

26Ndodana yami, ngipha inhliziyo yakho,
amehlo akho ahlale ezindleleni zami,
27ngoba isifebe singumgodi otshonayo
lomfazi olibele lendlela ungumthombo oyingozi.
28Uyacathamela njengesigebenga,
andise amadoda angathembekanga.

29Ngubani ohlaba umkhosi?
Ngubani olosizi na?
Ngubani otshingayo?
Ngubani olensolo na?
Ngubani omahluzuhluzu ngeze?
Ngubani omehlo abomvu gebhu na?
30Yilabo abalibala ngewayini,
abahamba bedinga inzwisa yewayini elidibanisiweyo.
31Ungahugwa liwayini ulibona libomvu,
nxa likhazimula enkomitshini,
lapho lisehla kamnandi!
32Ekucineni liluma njengenyoka
libe lobuhlungu obubulalayo njengenhlangwana.
33Amehlo akho azabona izinto ezingaqedakaliyo
lengqondo yakho icabange izinto ezididayo.
34Uzakuba njengomuntu ondendayo phakathi kolwandle,
olele esiqongweni sensika yomkhumbi.
35Uzakuthi, “Bangitshayile kodwa kangilimalanga!
Bangibethile kodwa kakubuhlungu!
Ngizavuka nini bo ngiyodinga obunye utshwala?”