Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 [It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
