Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth 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 confident friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths 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 at the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
