Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [with] strife.
Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
5 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
9 He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
10 A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
16 To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
17 The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
26 To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
28 Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
