Proverbs 26
1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honor is not [seemly] for a fool.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 He that digs a pit for his neighbor shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
