Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
7 for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
9 Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
10 lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
13 As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
15 In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
17 Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
20 As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
21 If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
22 for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
26 As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
