Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity 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!
Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
