Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor [is] not fitting for a fool.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause does not come.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you are like to him—even you.
Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he is wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 The two legs of the lame have been weak, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And an allegory in the mouth of fools.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 The Former of all [is] great, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As a dog has returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 You have seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 The slothful has said, “A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.”
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 The door turns around on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 The slothful has hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife [that is] not his own.
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 So has a man deceived his neighbor, And has said, “Am I not playing?”
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 Fire is going out without wood, And contention ceases without a tale-bearer,
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
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 onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 A hater pretends by his lips, And he places deceit in his heart,
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 When his voice is gracious do not trust in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Its wickedness is revealed in an assembly.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And the roller of a stone, it turns to him.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
