Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, and snarlest against all sound wisdom.
Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may lay itself bare.
Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; a flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
5 It is not good to respect the person of the wicked, so as to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
9 Even one that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is set up on high.
Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honour goeth humility.
Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and confusion unto him.
Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
18 The lot causeth strife to cease, and parteth asunder the contentious.
Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that indulge it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a great good, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth impudently.
Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
24 There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
