Izaga 18
1 Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
He who separateth himself seeketh his own desire; Against all sound discretion he rusheth on.
2 Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
The fool hath no delight in understanding, But rather in revealing his own mind.
3 Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; And with baseness, shame.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, And the wellspring of wisdom is an overflowing brook.
5 Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked, So as to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calleth for blows.
7 Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare for his life.
8 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a talebearer are like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
9 Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
Moreover, he that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runneth to it, and is safe.
11 Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall, in his own conceit.
12 Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
He who answereth a matter before he hath heard it, It is folly and shame to him.
14 Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
The heart of the intelligent will acquire knowledge, And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
A gift maketh room for a man, And bringeth him into the presence of the great.
17 Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.
18 Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth asunder the mighty.
19 Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; Yea, their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.
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 its fruit.
22 Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
He that findeth a wife findeth a blessing, And obtaineth favor from the LORD.
23 Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
24 Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
A man of many friends will show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.
