Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
4 Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
5 It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
6 The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
7 The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
9 He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
12 Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
13 When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
14 The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
15 The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
17 He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
18 The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
19 A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
23 The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
24 A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
