Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
