Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
9 Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
