Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [with] strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
