Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
27 The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
