Izaga 17
1 Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
