Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
5 Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
6 One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 [As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
16 Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
22 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
23 Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
