Proverbs 17
1 Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
2 A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
3 A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
4 Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
5 Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
7 Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
8 Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
9 If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
10 A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
11 Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
13 If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
15 The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
16 Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
17 A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
18 It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
19 People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
20 People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
21 A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
22 A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
24 Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
25 A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
26 It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
27 If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
28 Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
