Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing]-wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
