Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, and rageth against all sound wisdom.
Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy cometh reproach.
Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
5 To accept the person of the wicked is not good, [nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty, morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own imagination.
Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [goeth] humility.
Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
23 The poor useth entreaties: but the rich answereth roughly.
Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
24 He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
