Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
5 He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children is their fathers.
Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
8 A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: wherever it turneth, it prospereth.
Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
