Izaga 18
1 Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
