Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
