Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho 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.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi 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: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
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.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo 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 uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani 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.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
