Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
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 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
