Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
