Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
