Proverbs 18
1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
10 A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
24 A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
