Proverbs 18
1 A man seeketh, for satisfaction, going his own way, through all safe counsel, he breaketh.
Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
2 A dullard, delighteth not, in understanding, in nothing save the exposing of his own heart.
Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
3 When the lawless man cometh in, then cometh also contempt, and, with shame, reproach.
Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
4 Deep waters, are the words of a man’s mouth, —a bubbling brook, the well-spring of wisdom.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
5 To prefer a lawless man, is not good, thrusting away the righteous, in judgment.
Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
6 the lips of a dullard, enter into contention, and his mouth, for blows, crieth out.
Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
7 The mouth of a dullard, is his ruin, and, his lips, are a snare to his soul.
Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
9 Surely he that is slothful in his work, brother, is he to a master at laying waste.
Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
10 A tower of strength, is the Name of Yahweh, thereinto, runneth the righteous, and is safe.
Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
11 The substance of a rich man, is his strong city, and like a high wall, in his imagination.
Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
12 Before grievous injury, a man’s heart is haughty, and, before honour, is humility.
Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
13 He that answereth before he heareth, a folly, it is to him, and, a reproach.
Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
14 The spirit of a man, sustaineth his sickness, but, a dejected spirit, who can bear it?
Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
15 the heart of the intelligent, acquireth knowledge, yea, the ear of the wise, seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
16 The gift of a man, maketh room for him, and, before great men, setteth him down.
Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
17 Righteous is he that is first in his own cause, then cometh his neighbour, and thoroughly searcheth him.
Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
18 The lot causeth, contentions, to cease, and, the mighty, it parteth.
Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
19 A brother estranged, [is worse] than a strong city, —and, contentions, are as the bar of a citadel.
Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth, shall his inmost mind be satisfied, with the product 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, its friends, shall eat its fruits.
Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
22 Who hath found a wife, hath found a blessing, and hath obtained favour from Yahweh.
Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
23 Supplications, doth the poor man utter, but, the rich, answereth fiercely.
Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
24 A man having [many] friends, shall come to ruin, but there is a loving one, who sticketh closer than a brother.
Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
