Proverbs 25
1 THESE are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
