Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless does not alight.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like to him.
Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks injury.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool, and he who hires those who pass by.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As a dog who returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 See thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope for a fool than of him.
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 The door turns upon its hinges, so does the sluggard upon his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. It wearies him to bring it again to his mouth.
Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 He who passes by, and meddles with strife not his, is like he who takes a dog by the ears.
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 As a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not in sport?
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 When he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shown before the assembly.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 He who digs a pit shall fall in it, and he who rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
