Proverbs 26
1 Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
6 One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 The sluggard buries 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 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “Am I not joking?”
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
