Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
