Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
