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