Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding?
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander everywhere.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
