Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
