Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngelakusasa, ngoba kawukwazi ukuthi liza lithweleni.
Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Yekela omunye akudumise, hatshi owakho umlomo; akube ngomunye, kungabi ngezakho izindebe.
Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 Ilitshe liyasinda, itshebetshebe ngumthwalo onzima, kodwa ukucatshulwa yisiwula kunzima okudlula kokubili.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya lentukuthelo iyagabha, kambe ngubani ongema phambi komhawu na?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Kungcono ukuthukwa obala kulokuthandwa ngokufihlakeleyo.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Ukulinyazwa ngumngane kakwesabeki, kodwa isitha sikwanga sedlulise amalawulo.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 Osuthiyo kathakazeleli uluju oluvela ekhekhebeni, kodwa kolambileyo lokubabayo kunambitheka mnandi.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Njengenyoni elahleka esidlekeni sayo, unjalo umuntu otshiya umuzi wakhe.
As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
9 Amakha lempepha kuletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lobumnandi bomngane busuka ezelulekweni zakhe eziqinileyo.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo, futhi ungayi endlini yomfowenu nxa wehlelwe yizinhlupheko ungcono umakhelwane eduze kolomfowenu okhatshana.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana, ulethe intokozo enhliziyweni yami; lapho ngizakwazi ukumphendula ongeyisayo.
Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
12 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Thatha isigqoko salowo owenzela owemzini isibambiso; sigcine njengesithembiso aluba esenzela umfazi ongelasimilo.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Uba umuntu evukisa umakhelwane wakhe ngokumnqolonga ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa uyamqalekisa.
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 Umfazi olenkani unjengamathonsi angapheliyo mhlana kusina;
On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
16 ukumkhuza kufana lokukhuza umoya loba lokubamba okulamagcobo ngesandla.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Njengensimbi ilola insimbi, kanjalo indoda ikhaliphisa enye.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Lowo onakekela isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla izithelo zawo, kuthi lowo olondoloza umqhatshi wakhe abelodumo.
He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Njengamanzi etshengisa ubuso bomuntu, kanjalo inhliziyo yomuntu itshengisa ayikho khona.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
21 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni imvutho ngeyegolide, kodwa abantu bahlolwa ngodumo lwabo.
Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Ungaze uchole isiwula elitsheni, usichole njengamabele ngembokodo kawusoze ubususe ubuwula baso.
Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Woba leqiniso ukuthi uhlala usazi kuhle isimo sezifuyo zakho, nanzelela imihlambi yakho;
Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
24 ngoba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Utshani bungaqunywa kuqalise ukuhluma obunye kuthi bonke obusikiweyo ezintabeni sebubuthiwe,
Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 amawundlu azakupha uboya bezigqoko, lembuzi zikuphe imali elingana intengo yesiqinti.
that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
27 Uzakuba lochago lwembuzi olunengi olwakho lolwendlu yakho lusuthise lezinceku zakho.
[My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
