Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back of fools.
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will become like him.
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
The lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
