Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
“Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
19 A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
27 The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
