Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
