< Proverbs 20 >
1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.