Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
7 For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
20 Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
21 If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
