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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
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] Jehovah.
4 Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
An evil doer 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.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso 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!
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
An evil man seeketh 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.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, 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 provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite 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 intelligent!
