Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
