< Proverbs 26 >

1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
9 Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.

< Proverbs 26 >