Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
7 The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
9 A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
10 The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
11 As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
14 The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
15 The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
19 So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
20 Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
24 A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
25 When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
27 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
28 A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
