Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
