1 Izaga zikaSolomoni indodana kaDavida, inkosi yako-Israyeli:
2 ukuba abantu bazuze ukuhlakanipha lokuzithiba;
3 ukuba bazuze impilo yokuzithiba lobuqotho,
4 ukunika ulwazi kwabayizithutha,
5 ukuthi ohlakaniphileyo alalele engeze ukufunda kwakhe,
6 ukuba abantu bazwisise izaga lemizekeliso,
7 Ukwesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho,
8 Lalela, ndodana yami, izeluleko zikayihlo
9 Kuzakuba ngumqhele omuhle ekhanda lakho
10 Ndodana yami, aluba izoni zikuhuga,
11 Nxa zisithi, “Woza sihambe;
12 kasibaginye bephila njengengcwaba,
13 sizazuza impahla ezinhle ezehlukeneyo
14 phathisana lathi
15 ndodana yami, ungahambi lazo,
16 ngoba ezabo inyawo zigijima ekoneni,
17 Kakusizi ukuthiya ngembule
18 Abantu laba bacathamela ukuchitheka kwelabo igazi;
19 Sinjalo isiphetho salabo abadinga inzuzo ngobugebenga;
20 Ukuhlakanipha kuyamemeza emgwaqweni,
21 kuyanqongoloza lezindleleni okuxokozela khona,
22 “Koze kube nini lina zithutha lithanda ubuthutha benu na?
23 Lalelani ukukhuza kwami liphenduke!
24 Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi langifulathela ngilibiza,
25 njengoba lala izeluleko zami
26 ngakho lami ngizahleka selihlupheka;
27 nxa usizi lulehlela njengesiphepho;
28 Lapho-ke bazangibiza kodwa kangiyikusabela;
29 Ngoba babeluzonda ulwazi
30 ngoba kabavumanga iseluleko sami,
31 bazakudla izithelo zokuhamba kwabo
32 Phela ubuhlongandlebe bezithutha buzazibulala,
33 kodwa lowo ongilalelayo uzahlala evikelekile ekhululekile,