Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [So is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 It is not good to eat much honey; So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
