Izaga 18
1 Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
2 Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.
3 Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and reproach.
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 flowing stream.
5 Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.
6 Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
A fool's lips bring him conflict and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool's mouth is his ruin and he ensnares himself with his lips.
8 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.
10 Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person runs into it and is safe.
11 Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.
14 Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.
16 Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.
17 Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.
18 Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
Casting the lot settles disputes and separates strong opponents.
19 Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.
22 Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from Yahweh.
23 Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.
24 Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.
