Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
