Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
The fining 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 wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities 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!
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: 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 it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: 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 it be meddled with.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] 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 get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
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 striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] 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 mischief.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a 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 judgment.
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] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
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] a man of understanding.
