Proverbs 18
1 Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
2 The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
3 The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
4 Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
5 It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
6 The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
7 The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
9 Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
10 The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
11 The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
12 The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
13 Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
15 A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
16 A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
17 The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
18 Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
19 A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
22 He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
23 The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
24 A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.
Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
