Proverbs 25
1 Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
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.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
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 ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
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.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula 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.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
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.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
