Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
