Izaga 15
1 Impendulo ethobekileyo iyaludedisa ulaka, kodwa ilizwi elilukhuni livusa ulaka.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 Ulimi lomuntu ohlakaniphileyo lukhulisa ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula uphihlika ubuphukuphuku.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 Amehlo kaThixo asezindaweni zonke, alinde ababi labalungileyo.
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 Ulimi oluletha ukuphola luyisihlahla sokuphila, kodwa ulimi olukhohlisayo luyawephula umoya.
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
5 Isiwula siyakulahla ukulaya kukayise, kodwa owemukela ukuqondiswa uveza ukuhlakanipha.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 Indlu yolungileyo igcwele inotho, kodwa inzuzo yababi ibehlisela uhlupho.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 Izindlela zabahlakaniphileyo ziyalwandisa ulwazi, kodwa kazenzi njalo inhliziyo zeziwula.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 UThixo uyawenyanya umhlatshelo wababi, kodwa umkhuleko wabaqotho uyamthokozisa.
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 UThixo uyayenyanya indlela yababi, kodwa uyabathanda labo abalandela ukulunga.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Ukujeziswa okubuhlungu kumlindele ophambuka endleleni; ozonda ukuqondiswa uzakufa.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 Isideleli siyakuzonda ukuqondiswa; kasibuzi kwabahlakaniphileyo.
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza ubuso buchelese, kodwa inhliziyo ebuhlungu yephula umoya.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 Inhliziyo eqedisisayo idinga ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wesiwula wongiwa ngobuthutha.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 Zonke insuku zabancindezelweyo zilukhuni, kodwa inhliziyo ethokozileyo ihlezi iminza.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Kungcono ukuba lokulutshwana umesaba uThixo kulokuba lenotho enengi ulenhlupho.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 Kungcono ukutsheba ngemibhida lapho okulothando khona, kulokudla inyama enonileyo okugcwele khona inzondo.
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 Ololaka oluvuthayo ubanga ukuxabana, kodwa umuntu obekezelayo uqeda inkani.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 Indlela yevila igcwele ameva, kodwa indlela yomuntu olungileyo ikhamisile.
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 Indodana ehlakaniphileyo iletha intokozo kuyise, kodwa indoda eyisiwula yeyisa unina.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Ubuthutha bujabulisa umuntu ongelangqondo, kodwa umuntu olokuzwisisa uhamba ngendlela eqondileyo.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 Amaqhinga ayehluleka nxa kungelazeluleko, kodwa ayaphumelela ngabeluleki abanengi.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 Umuntu uyathokoza ngokupha impendulo eqondileyo yeka kuhle kangakanani ukuzwa ilizwi elifaneleyo!
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 UThixo uyayibhidliza indlu yomuntu oziphakamisayo, kodwa indawo yomfelokazi kayiyikuncitshiswa.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 UThixo uyayizonda imicabango yababi, kodwa leyo eyabalungileyo iyamthabisa.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
27 Indoda eyisihwaba iluhlupho kwabendlu yayo, kodwa lowo ozonda ukufunjathiswa uzaphila.
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 Olungileyo uyayihlolisisa impendulo engakaphenduli, kodwa umlomo womubi ukhihliza okubi.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 UThixo ukhatshana kwababi, kodwa uyezwa umkhuleko wabalungileyo.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 Ubuso obubobothekayo buletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lezindaba ezinhle ziqinisa umzimba.
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 Lowo olalela ukukhuzwa okumphilisayo, uzahlala kuhle labahlakaniphileyo.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 Lowo onganaki ukulaywa uyazeyisa yena ngokwakhe, kodwa onanza iziqondiso uzuza ukuzwisisa.
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 Ukumesaba uThixo kufundisa umuntu ukuhlakanipha, njalo ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
