Proverbs 25
1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself in the place of the great;
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
