Izaga 18
1 Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
