Proverbs 12
1 Whoso is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoso is hating reproof [is] brutish.
Othanda ukuqondiswa uthanda ulwazi, kodwa ozonda ukukhuzwa uyisithutha.
2 The good bringeth forth favour from Jehovah, And the man of wicked devices He condemneth.
Umuntu olungileyo uthola umusa kuThixo, kodwa uThixo uyamlahla owakha amacebo amabi.
3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
Umuntu angazake amiswe yibubi, kodwa olungileyo angeke aquphuke.
4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
Umfazi olesimilo ungumqhele womkakhe, kodwa umfazi oyangisayo unjengokubola kwamathambo akhe.
5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked — deceit.
Izimiso zabalungileyo ziqondile, kodwa izeluleko zababi ziyinkohliso.
6 The words of the wicked [are]: 'Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth them.
Amazwi ababi alindele ukuchitha igazi, kodwa inkulumo yabalungileyo iyabakhulula.
7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous standeth.
Abantu ababi bayachithwa bangabe besaba khona, kodwa indlu yolungileyo imi izinzile.
8 According to his wisdom is a man praised, And the perverted of heart becometh despised.
Umuntu udunyiswa ngokuhlakanipha kwakhe, kodwa abantu abalengqondo ezimbi bayeyiswa.
9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.
Kungcono ukungabi ngubani kodwa ulesisebenzi, kulokuzitshaya ulutho kodwa uswela lokudla.
10 The righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
Umuntu olungileyo uyayinanzelela imfuyo yakhe kodwa okuhle komuntu omubi yilunya.
11 Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
Lowo osebenza nzima emasimini akhe uzathola ukudla okunengi, kodwa lowo ophika ngezifiso eziyize akalangqondo.
12 The wicked hath desired the net of evil doers, And the root of the righteous giveth.
Ababi bahawukela impango yezigangi, kodwa impande yabalungileyo imi iqinile.
13 In transgression of the lips [is] the snare of the wicked, And the righteous goeth out from distress.
Umuntu omubi uthiyeka ngenkulumo yakhe yesono, kodwa umuntu olungileyo uyaphepha enkathazweni.
14 From the fruit of the mouth [is] one satisfied [with] good, And the deed of man's hands returneth to him.
Umuntu uzuza okuhle ngamazwi omlomo wakhe, umsebenzi wezandla zakhe umnika inzuzo.
15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise.
Indlela yesiwula ikhanya iqondile kuso, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyalalela izeluleko.
16 The fool — in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame.
Isiwula siyaphangisa ukuthukuthela, kodwa umuntu olengqondo kananzi loba ethukwa.
17 Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness — deceit.
Umfakazi oleqiniso upha ubufakazi obuqondileyo, kodwa umfakazi ongathembekanga ukhuluma amanga.
18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
Amazwi okubhuda agwaza njengenkemba, kodwa ulimi lohlakaniphileyo luyelapha.
19 The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment — a tongue of falsehood.
Izindebe zeqiniso zimi lanini, kodwa ulimi olulamanga luma umzuzwana nje.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy.
Inhliziyo zabaceba ububi zigcwele inkohliso, kodwa kulokuthokoza kwabaletha ukuthula.
21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
Akukho ngozi ewela abalungileyo, kodwa izigangi zikhulelwa zinhlupho.
22 An abomination to Jehovah [are] lying lips, And stedfast doers [are] his delight.
UThixo uyazenyanya izindlela ezilamanga, kodwa uyathokoza ngabantu abaleqiniso.
23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaimeth folly.
Umuntu olengqondo kazitshengiseli ulwazi lwakhe, kodwa iziwula ziyabutshengisela ubuthutha bazo.
24 The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary.
Izandla ezikhutheleyo zizaletha inhlalakahle, kodwa ubuvila budonsela ekugqilazweni.
25 Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad.
Inhliziyo ekhathazekileyo iyamcakisa umuntu, kodwa ilizwi elilomusa liyamthokozisa.
26 The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
Umuntu olungileyo ukhetha abangane ngonanzelelo, kodwa indlela yababi iyabaphumputhekisa.
27 The slothful roasteth not his hunting, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
Umzingeli olivila kazuzi nyama yokosa, kodwa umuntu okhutheleyo uyazibula ngenotho yakhe.
28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
Endleleni yokulunga kulokuphila, kuleyondlela kulokuphila okungapheliyo.
