Proverbs 26
1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
