Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
10 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
11 As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
22 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.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
