Izaga 14
1 Umfazi ohlakaniphileyo uyakha indlu yakhe, kodwa lowo oyisiwula uyayibhidliza ngezandla zakhe.
A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.
2 Lowo ohamba ngobuqotho uyamesaba uThixo, kodwa lowo ondlela zakhe zigobile uyameyisa.
One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
3 Inkulumo yesiwula isikhothisa ngoswazi emhlane, kodwa indebe zalowo ohlakaniphileyo ziyamvikela.
In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.
4 Lapho okungelankabi khona isibaya siyize, kodwa amandla enkabi aletha isivuno esinengi.
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 Umfakazi oleqiniso kakhohlisi, kodwa umfakazi ongelaqiniso uhutsha amanga.
A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
6 Oweyisayo uyakudinga ukuhlakanipha kodwa kakutholi, kodwa ulwazi luyazizela koqondisisayo.
A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.
7 Suka emuntwini oyisiwula, ngoba awuyikuthola ulwazi ezindebeni zakhe.
Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
8 Ukuhlakanipha kwabaqondayo yikuthi bayacabanga ngalokho abakwenzayo, kodwa ubuthutha beziwula buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.
9 Iziwula zikwenza ubuthutha ukuphenduka ezonweni, kodwa abaqotho bafisa ukwenza uxolo.
The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
10 Inhliziyo leyo laleyo iyakwazi ukudabuka kwayo, njalo kakho ongakwazi ukuthokoza kwayo.
The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.
11 Indlu yomubi izadilizwa, kodwa ithente loqotho lizaphumelela.
The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
13 Ukuhleba kungabe kufihle ubuhlungu benhliziyo, lokuthokoza kucine sekulusizi.
Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
14 Abangelakho bazavuzwa ngokubafaneleyo, lomuntu olungileyo laye avuzwe ngokwakhe.
The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
15 Umuntu oyisithutha ukholwa loba yini, kodwa olengqondo uyakucabangisisa konke akwenzayo.
The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.
16 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyamesaba uThixo, axwaye okubi, kodwa isiwula siliphikankani kodwa sizizwa sivikelekile.
The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.
17 Umuntu olicaphucaphu wenza izinto zobuthutha, lomuntu oliqili uyazondwa.
The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.
18 Abangazi lutho ilifa labo yibuwula, kodwa abalengqondo betheswa umqhele wolwazi.
The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.
19 Abantu ababi bazilahla phansi phambi kwabalungileyo, lezixhwali ziguqa emasangweni abalungileyo.
The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.
20 Abayanga bahlanyukelwa langabomakhelwane babo, kodwa izinothi zilabangane abanengi.
The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.
21 Lowo oweyisa umakhelwane wenza isono, kodwa ubusisiwe olomusa kwabaswelayo.
Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
22 Kabalahleki yini abaceba ububi? Kodwa abamisa ukwenza okuhle bafumana uthando lokuthembeka.
They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 Ukusebenza nzima konke kuletha inzuzo, kodwa ukuqina ngomlomo kuthelela ubuyanga.
In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
24 Inotho yabahlakaniphileyo ingumqhele wabo, kodwa ubuphukuphuku beziwula buzala ubuthutha.
The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
25 Umfakazi oleqiniso uyabakhulula abantu, kodwa umfakazi wamanga uyakhohlisa.
A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.
26 Lowo owesaba uThixo ulenqaba eqinileyo, uzakuba yisiphephelo senzalo yakhe.
In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.
27 Ukumesaba uThixo kungumthombo wokuphila, kuvikela umuntu emijibileni yokufa.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.
28 Ubunengi babantu elizweni kuludumo enkosini, kodwa nxa kungelabantu umbusi kasilutho.
In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.
29 Umuntu obekezelayo uyazwisisa kakhulu, kodwa ophanga ukuthukuthela uveza ubuthutha.
Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
30 Ingqondo elokuthula iletha ukuphila emzimbeni, kodwa umhawu ubolisa amathambo.
The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.
31 Lowo oncindezela abayanga weyisa uMenzi wabo, kodwa olomusa kwabaswelayo udumisa uNkulunkulu.
Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.
32 Nxa kufika ubunzima ababi bayadilika, kodwa abalungileyo balesiphephelo lasekufeni.
The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
33 Ukuhlakanipha kuzinzile enhliziyweni yabaqedisisayo, kuyaziveza kanye lakwabayiziwula.
In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
34 Ukulunga kuyasiphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo lakubaphi abantu.
Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
35 Inkosi iyathokoza ngenceku ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa inceku ehlazisayo iyayithukuthelisa.
An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.
