Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
