Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
2 A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
3 The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
6 Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
7 Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
9 He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
10 A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
16 Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
17 A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
18 A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
19 He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
20 He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
21 Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
22 A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
26 Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
27 He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
28 Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
