Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may reveal itself.
Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
3 When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
4 The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the well-spring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
7 A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
11 The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor [is] humility.
Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame to him.
Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
17 [He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.
Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.
Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
22 [Whoever] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favor from the LORD.
Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
24 A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
