Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, “Come up hither,” than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
8 Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
13 As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
16 Hast thou found honey: eat so much as is sufficient for thee: lest thou consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
20 [As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
