Proverbs 25
1 These also, are proverbs of Solomon, —which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
2 The glory of God, is to conceal a thing, but, the glory of kings, is to search out a thing.
Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but, the heart of kings, cannot be searched.
Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
4 Remove the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth, to the refiner, a vessel:
Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
5 Remove a lawless man from before the king, that his throne, may be established in righteousness.
Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
6 Do not honour thyself before a king, nor, in the place of great men, do thou stand;
Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
7 For better it be said to thee, Come up hither, —than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.
ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
8 Do not go forth to strive in haste, —lest [thou know not] what to do in the latter end thereof, when thy neighbour, hath put thee to shame.
Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
9 Thy contention, urge thou with thy neighbour, and, the secret of another, do not reveal:
Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
10 Lest he that heareth expose thee, and, the report concerning thee, turn not away.
hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
11 Golden fruit in figured silver baskets, is a word spoken on fitting occasion.
Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
12 A ring of gold, and a vessel of precious metal, is a wise reprover, on a hearing ear.
Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
13 As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, —when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.
Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
14 Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.
Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
15 By long patience, is a judge persuaded, and, a soft tongue, breaketh the bone.
Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
16 Honey having found, eat to suffice thee, lest thou loathe it, and vomit it forth.
Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
17 Withhold thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, —lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
18 A hammer and a sword, and a sharpened arrow, is a man becoming a false witness against his neighbour.
Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
19 A broken tooth and a faltering foot, is confidence in the treacherous, in the day of danger.
Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
20 As splendour of dress on a cold day—vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.
Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
21 If he that hateth thee hunger, give him bread to eat, and, if he be thirsty, give him water to drink;
Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
22 For, burning coals, shalt thou be heaping upon his head, —and, Yahweh, will repay thee.
ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
23 A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.
Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
24 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
25 As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.
Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
26 A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.
Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
27 To eat honey in abundance, is not good, nor is, searching out their own honour, an honourable thing.
Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
28 A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.
Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
