Izaga 15
1 Impendulo ethobekileyo iyaludedisa ulaka, kodwa ilizwi elilukhuni livusa ulaka.
Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.
2 Ulimi lomuntu ohlakaniphileyo lukhulisa ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula uphihlika ubuphukuphuku.
The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things.
3 Amehlo kaThixo asezindaweni zonke, alinde ababi labalungileyo.
The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place.
4 Ulimi oluletha ukuphola luyisihlahla sokuphila, kodwa ulimi olukhohlisayo luyawephula umoya.
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
5 Isiwula siyakulahla ukulaya kukayise, kodwa owemukela ukuqondiswa uveza ukuhlakanipha.
A fool scorns his father's instruction; but he that keeps his commandments is more prudent. In abounding righteousness is great strength: but the ungodly shall utterly perish from the earth.
6 Indlu yolungileyo igcwele inotho, kodwa inzuzo yababi ibehlisela uhlupho.
In the houses of the righteous is much strength: but the fruits of the ungodly shall perish.
7 Izindlela zabahlakaniphileyo ziyalwandisa ulwazi, kodwa kazenzi njalo inhliziyo zeziwula.
The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.
8 UThixo uyawenyanya umhlatshelo wababi, kodwa umkhuleko wabaqotho uyamthokozisa.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him.
9 UThixo uyayenyanya indlela yababi, kodwa uyabathanda labo abalandela ukulunga.
The ways of an ungodly [man] are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness.
10 Ukujeziswa okubuhlungu kumlindele ophambuka endleleni; ozonda ukuqondiswa uzakufa.
The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully.
Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men? (Sheol h7585)
12 Isideleli siyakuzonda ukuqondiswa; kasibuzi kwabahlakaniphileyo.
An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise.
13 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza ubuso buchelese, kodwa inhliziyo ebuhlungu yephula umoya.
When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, [the countenance] is sad.
14 Inhliziyo eqedisisayo idinga ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula wongiwa ngobuthutha.
An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
15 Zonke insuku zabancindezelweyo zilukhuni, kodwa inhliziyo ethokozileyo ihlezi iminza.
The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet.
16 Kungcono ukuba lokulutshwana umesaba uThixo kulokuba lenotho enengi ulenhlupho.
Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear [of the Lord].
17 Kungcono ukutsheba ngemibhida lapho okulothando khona, kulokudla inyama enonileyo okugcwele khona inzondo.
Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity.
18 Ololaka oluvuthayo ubanga ukuxabana, kodwa umuntu obekezelayo uqeda inkani.
A passionate man stirs up strife; but [he that is] slow to anger appeases even a rising one. A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels; but an ungodly man rather stirs [them] up.
19 Indlela yevila igcwele ameva, kodwa indlela yomuntu olungileyo ikhamisile.
The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.
20 Indodana ehlakaniphileyo iletha intokozo kuyise, kodwa indoda eyisiwula yeyisa unina.
A wise son gladdens [his] father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.
21 Ubuthutha bujabulisa umuntu ongelangqondo, kodwa umuntu olokuzwisisa uhamba ngendlela eqondileyo.
The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.
22 Amaqhinga ayehluleka nxa kungelazeluleko, kodwa ayaphumelela ngabeluleki abanengi.
They that honour not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counsellors.
23 Umuntu uyathokoza ngokupha impendulo eqondileyo yeka kuhle kangakanani ukuzwa ilizwi elifaneleyo!
A bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common [weal].
The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell. (Sheol h7585)
25 UThixo uyayibhidliza indlu yomuntu oziphakamisayo, kodwa indawo yomfelokazi kayiyikuncitshiswa.
The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow.
26 UThixo uyayizonda imicabango yababi, kodwa leyo eyabalungileyo iyamthabisa.
An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honour.
27 Indoda eyisihwaba iluhlupho kwabendlu yayo, kodwa lowo ozonda ukufunjathiswa uzaphila.
A receiver of bribes destroys himself; but he that hates the receiving of bribes is safe. [By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away; ] but by the fear of the Lord every one departs from evil.
28 Olungileyo uyayihlolisisa impendulo engakaphenduli, kodwa umlomo womubi ukhihliza okubi.
The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness; but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things. The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord; and through them even enemies become friends.
29 UThixo ukhatshana kwababi, kodwa uyezwa umkhuleko wabalungileyo.
God is far from the ungodly; but he hearkens to the prayers of the righteous. Better are small receipts with righteousness, than abundant fruits with unrighteousness. Let the heart of a man think justly, that his steps may be rightly ordered of God. The eye that sees rightly rejoices the heart; and a good report fattens the bones.
30 Ubuso obubobothekayo buletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lezindaba ezinhle ziqinisa umzimba.
31 Lowo olalela ukukhuzwa okumphilisayo, uzahlala kuhle labahlakaniphileyo.
32 Lowo onganaki ukulaywa uyazeyisa yena ngokwakhe, kodwa onanza iziqondiso uzuza ukuzwisisa.
He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that mind reproofs loves his soul.
33 Ukumesaba uThixo kufundisa umuntu ukuhlakanipha, njalo ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom; and the highest honour will correspond therewith.
