Izaga 26
1 Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so kavod ·weighty glory· is not fitting for a fool.
2 Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
5 Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives kavod ·weighty glory· to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
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 ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog that makes teshuvah ·completely returns· to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
When his speech is pleasant, don’t believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
