Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
25 A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
