Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
2 Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
