Proverbs 18
1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
3 The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
4 Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
13 He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
16 A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
