Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
