Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 provoketh him sinneth against himself.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 “Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 The bread of falsehood 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 Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
