Izaga 14
1 Umfazi ohlakaniphileyo uyakha indlu yakhe, kodwa lowo oyisiwula uyayibhidliza ngezandla zakhe.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Lowo ohamba ngobuqotho uyamesaba uThixo, kodwa lowo ondlela zakhe zigobile uyameyisa.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Inkulumo yesiwula isikhothisa ngoswazi emhlane, kodwa indebe zalowo ohlakaniphileyo ziyamvikela.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Lapho okungelankabi khona isibaya siyize, kodwa amandla enkabi aletha isivuno esinengi.
Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Umfakazi oleqiniso kakhohlisi, kodwa umfakazi ongelaqiniso uhutsha amanga.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Oweyisayo uyakudinga ukuhlakanipha kodwa kakutholi, kodwa ulwazi luyazizela koqondisisayo.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Suka emuntwini oyisiwula, ngoba awuyikuthola ulwazi ezindebeni zakhe.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Ukuhlakanipha kwabaqondayo yikuthi bayacabanga ngalokho abakwenzayo, kodwa ubuthutha beziwula buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Iziwula zikwenza ubuthutha ukuphenduka ezonweni, kodwa abaqotho bafisa ukwenza uxolo.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Inhliziyo leyo laleyo iyakwazi ukudabuka kwayo, njalo kakho ongakwazi ukuthokoza kwayo.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Indlu yomubi izadilizwa, kodwa ithente loqotho lizaphumelela.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Ukuhleba kungabe kufihle ubuhlungu benhliziyo, lokuthokoza kucine sekulusizi.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Abangelakho bazavuzwa ngokubafaneleyo, lomuntu olungileyo laye avuzwe ngokwakhe.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Umuntu oyisithutha ukholwa loba yini, kodwa olengqondo uyakucabangisisa konke akwenzayo.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyamesaba uThixo, axwaye okubi, kodwa isiwula siliphikankani kodwa sizizwa sivikelekile.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Umuntu olicaphucaphu wenza izinto zobuthutha, lomuntu oliqili uyazondwa.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Abangazi lutho ilifa labo yibuwula, kodwa abalengqondo betheswa umqhele wolwazi.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Abantu ababi bazilahla phansi phambi kwabalungileyo, lezixhwali ziguqa emasangweni abalungileyo.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Abayanga bahlanyukelwa langabomakhelwane babo, kodwa izinothi zilabangane abanengi.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Lowo oweyisa umakhelwane wenza isono, kodwa ubusisiwe olomusa kwabaswelayo.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Kabalahleki yini abaceba ububi? Kodwa abamisa ukwenza okuhle bafumana uthando lokuthembeka.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Ukusebenza nzima konke kuletha inzuzo, kodwa ukuqina ngomlomo kuthelela ubuyanga.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Inotho yabahlakaniphileyo ingumqhele wabo, kodwa ubuphukuphuku beziwula buzala ubuthutha.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Umfakazi oleqiniso uyabakhulula abantu, kodwa umfakazi wamanga uyakhohlisa.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Lowo owesaba uThixo ulenqaba eqinileyo, uzakuba yisiphephelo senzalo yakhe.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Ukumesaba uThixo kungumthombo wokuphila, kuvikela umuntu emijibileni yokufa.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Ubunengi babantu elizweni kuludumo enkosini, kodwa nxa kungelabantu umbusi kasilutho.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Umuntu obekezelayo uyazwisisa kakhulu, kodwa ophanga ukuthukuthela uveza ubuthutha.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Ingqondo elokuthula iletha ukuphila emzimbeni, kodwa umhawu ubolisa amathambo.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Lowo oncindezela abayanga weyisa uMenzi wabo, kodwa olomusa kwabaswelayo udumisa uNkulunkulu.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Nxa kufika ubunzima ababi bayadilika, kodwa abalungileyo balesiphephelo lasekufeni.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Ukuhlakanipha kuzinzile enhliziyweni yabaqedisisayo, kuyaziveza kanye lakwabayiziwula.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Ukulunga kuyasiphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo lakubaphi abantu.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Inkosi iyathokoza ngenceku ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa inceku ehlazisayo iyayithukuthelisa.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
