Proverbs 18

1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.

5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.

6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.

8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.

9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.

10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.

13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.

14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?

15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.

17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.

Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.

18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.

19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.

20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.

22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.

23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.

24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.