Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
2 As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
8 As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
9 [As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
10 A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
11 As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
14 [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
21 [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
25 when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
26 Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
