Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 For better it is that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an 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 them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar on nitre, so is he that singes songs to an heavy heart.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
