Proverbs 25
1 These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias king of Juda copied out.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of kings to search out the speech.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 The heaven above, and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most pure vessel:
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a stranger:
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for thyself, lest thou fall under reproach.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that boasteth, and doth not fulfill his promises.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest being glutted therewith thou vomit it up.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 To trust to an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a rotten tooth, and weary foot,
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him water to drink:
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman, and in a common house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good tidings from a far country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
