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 flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
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 hearts.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso returneth 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 rolleth onward.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man who lacketh 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 who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
The 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 the face of 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 bore him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
