Izaga 15
1 Impendulo ethobekileyo iyaludedisa ulaka, kodwa ilizwi elilukhuni livusa ulaka.
By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 Ulimi lomuntu ohlakaniphileyo lukhulisa ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula uphihlika ubuphukuphuku.
Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
3 Amehlo kaThixo asezindaweni zonke, alinde ababi labalungileyo.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 Ulimi oluletha ukuphola luyisihlahla sokuphila, kodwa ulimi olukhohlisayo luyawephula umoya.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 Isiwula siyakulahla ukulaya kukayise, kodwa owemukela ukuqondiswa uveza ukuhlakanipha.
A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 Indlu yolungileyo igcwele inotho, kodwa inzuzo yababi ibehlisela uhlupho.
In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.
7 Izindlela zabahlakaniphileyo ziyalwandisa ulwazi, kodwa kazenzi njalo inhliziyo zeziwula.
The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 UThixo uyawenyanya umhlatshelo wababi, kodwa umkhuleko wabaqotho uyamthokozisa.
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
9 UThixo uyayenyanya indlela yababi, kodwa uyabathanda labo abalandela ukulunga.
The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 Ukujeziswa okubuhlungu kumlindele ophambuka endleleni; ozonda ukuqondiswa uzakufa.
There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! (Sheol h7585)
12 Isideleli siyakuzonda ukuqondiswa; kasibuzi kwabahlakaniphileyo.
The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza ubuso buchelese, kodwa inhliziyo ebuhlungu yephula umoya.
A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 Inhliziyo eqedisisayo idinga ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula wongiwa ngobuthutha.
The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15 Zonke insuku zabancindezelweyo zilukhuni, kodwa inhliziyo ethokozileyo ihlezi iminza.
All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Kungcono ukuba lokulutshwana umesaba uThixo kulokuba lenotho enengi ulenhlupho.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 Kungcono ukutsheba ngemibhida lapho okulothando khona, kulokudla inyama enonileyo okugcwele khona inzondo.
Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 Ololaka oluvuthayo ubanga ukuxabana, kodwa umuntu obekezelayo uqeda inkani.
An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 Indlela yevila igcwele ameva, kodwa indlela yomuntu olungileyo ikhamisile.
Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 Indodana ehlakaniphileyo iletha intokozo kuyise, kodwa indoda eyisiwula yeyisa unina.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Ubuthutha bujabulisa umuntu ongelangqondo, kodwa umuntu olokuzwisisa uhamba ngendlela eqondileyo.
Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Amaqhinga ayehluleka nxa kungelazeluleko, kodwa ayaphumelela ngabeluleki abanengi.
Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
23 Umuntu uyathokoza ngokupha impendulo eqondileyo yeka kuhle kangakanani ukuzwa ilizwi elifaneleyo!
A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
25 UThixo uyayibhidliza indlu yomuntu oziphakamisayo, kodwa indawo yomfelokazi kayiyikuncitshiswa.
The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 UThixo uyayizonda imicabango yababi, kodwa leyo eyabalungileyo iyamthabisa.
Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 Indoda eyisihwaba iluhlupho kwabendlu yayo, kodwa lowo ozonda ukufunjathiswa uzaphila.
He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.
28 Olungileyo uyayihlolisisa impendulo engakaphenduli, kodwa umlomo womubi ukhihliza okubi.
The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
29 UThixo ukhatshana kwababi, kodwa uyezwa umkhuleko wabalungileyo.
The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 Ubuso obubobothekayo buletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lezindaba ezinhle ziqinisa umzimba.
The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 Lowo olalela ukukhuzwa okumphilisayo, uzahlala kuhle labahlakaniphileyo.
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 Lowo onganaki ukulaywa uyazeyisa yena ngokwakhe, kodwa onanza iziqondiso uzuza ukuzwisisa.
He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
33 Ukumesaba uThixo kufundisa umuntu ukuhlakanipha, njalo ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
