Izaga 14
1 Umfazi ohlakaniphileyo uyakha indlu yakhe, kodwa lowo oyisiwula uyayibhidliza ngezandla zakhe.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Lowo ohamba ngobuqotho uyamesaba uThixo, kodwa lowo ondlela zakhe zigobile uyameyisa.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Inkulumo yesiwula isikhothisa ngoswazi emhlane, kodwa indebe zalowo ohlakaniphileyo ziyamvikela.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Lapho okungelankabi khona isibaya siyize, kodwa amandla enkabi aletha isivuno esinengi.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Umfakazi oleqiniso kakhohlisi, kodwa umfakazi ongelaqiniso uhutsha amanga.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Oweyisayo uyakudinga ukuhlakanipha kodwa kakutholi, kodwa ulwazi luyazizela koqondisisayo.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Suka emuntwini oyisiwula, ngoba awuyikuthola ulwazi ezindebeni zakhe.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Ukuhlakanipha kwabaqondayo yikuthi bayacabanga ngalokho abakwenzayo, kodwa ubuthutha beziwula buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Iziwula zikwenza ubuthutha ukuphenduka ezonweni, kodwa abaqotho bafisa ukwenza uxolo.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Inhliziyo leyo laleyo iyakwazi ukudabuka kwayo, njalo kakho ongakwazi ukuthokoza kwayo.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Indlu yomubi izadilizwa, kodwa ithente loqotho lizaphumelela.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Ukuhleba kungabe kufihle ubuhlungu benhliziyo, lokuthokoza kucine sekulusizi.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Abangelakho bazavuzwa ngokubafaneleyo, lomuntu olungileyo laye avuzwe ngokwakhe.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Umuntu oyisithutha ukholwa loba yini, kodwa olengqondo uyakucabangisisa konke akwenzayo.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyamesaba uThixo, axwaye okubi, kodwa isiwula siliphikankani kodwa sizizwa sivikelekile.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Umuntu olicaphucaphu wenza izinto zobuthutha, lomuntu oliqili uyazondwa.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Abangazi lutho ilifa labo yibuwula, kodwa abalengqondo betheswa umqhele wolwazi.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Abantu ababi bazilahla phansi phambi kwabalungileyo, lezixhwali ziguqa emasangweni abalungileyo.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Abayanga bahlanyukelwa langabomakhelwane babo, kodwa izinothi zilabangane abanengi.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Lowo oweyisa umakhelwane wenza isono, kodwa ubusisiwe olomusa kwabaswelayo.
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Kabalahleki yini abaceba ububi? Kodwa abamisa ukwenza okuhle bafumana uthando lokuthembeka.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Ukusebenza nzima konke kuletha inzuzo, kodwa ukuqina ngomlomo kuthelela ubuyanga.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Inotho yabahlakaniphileyo ingumqhele wabo, kodwa ubuphukuphuku beziwula buzala ubuthutha.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Umfakazi oleqiniso uyabakhulula abantu, kodwa umfakazi wamanga uyakhohlisa.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Lowo owesaba uThixo ulenqaba eqinileyo, uzakuba yisiphephelo senzalo yakhe.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Ukumesaba uThixo kungumthombo wokuphila, kuvikela umuntu emijibileni yokufa.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Ubunengi babantu elizweni kuludumo enkosini, kodwa nxa kungelabantu umbusi kasilutho.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Umuntu obekezelayo uyazwisisa kakhulu, kodwa ophanga ukuthukuthela uveza ubuthutha.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Ingqondo elokuthula iletha ukuphila emzimbeni, kodwa umhawu ubolisa amathambo.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Lowo oncindezela abayanga weyisa uMenzi wabo, kodwa olomusa kwabaswelayo udumisa uNkulunkulu.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 Nxa kufika ubunzima ababi bayadilika, kodwa abalungileyo balesiphephelo lasekufeni.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Ukuhlakanipha kuzinzile enhliziyweni yabaqedisisayo, kuyaziveza kanye lakwabayiziwula.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Ukulunga kuyasiphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo lakubaphi abantu.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Inkosi iyathokoza ngenceku ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa inceku ehlazisayo iyayithukuthelisa.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
