Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
