Proverbs 25
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
13 Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
