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