Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
