< Proverbs 20 >

1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.

< Proverbs 20 >