Izaga 18
1 Umuntu ongelamusa uzifunela okwakhe; uyazilahla zonke iziqondiso ezinhle.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgement.
2 Isiwula kasikuthakazeleli ukuzwisisa kodwa sithokoza ngokutsho eyaso imibono.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Nxa kufika ububi kufika lokweyisa, njalo ihlazo liza lokudumazeka.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu ayinziki yamanzi, kodwa umthombo wokuhlakanipha ngumfudlana ontuntuzayo.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Kakukuhle ukulungisela ababi loba ukungehluleli kuhle abangelacala.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Izindebe zesiwula zisilethela ingxabano, lomlomo waso unxusa ukutshaywa.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Umlomo wesiwula yiwo osidilizayo, lezindebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, 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 dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Lowo ovilaphayo emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo walowo odilizayo.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Ibizo likaThixo liyinqaba eqinileyo; abalungileyo babalekela kulo baphephe.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 Inotho yezikhulu ingumuzi wazo ovikelweyo; zicabanga ukuthi imiduli yawo ayikhweleki.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Umuntu uyazikhukhumeza ngenhliziyo yakhe, mandulo kokuba awe, ikanti ukuzithoba kwandulela udumo.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility.
13 Lowo ophendulayo engaqali alalele lobo yibuwula bakhe lehlazo lakhe.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Umphefumulo womuntu uyamqinisa nxa egula, kodwa ngubani ongaphila elomoya owephukileyo na?
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yabaqedisisayo izuza ulwazi; indlebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyakudinga.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Isipho siyamvulela indlela ophayo azuze ithuba lokubonana labakhulu.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ecaleni okhuluma kuqala ubonakala enguye olungileyo, kuze kuqhamuke omunye ambuzisise.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Ukwenza inkatho kuyakuqeda ukulwisana, kubehlukanise abaxabanayo.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Umzalwane owonelweyo uba lukhuni kulomuzi ohonqolozelweyo, lezingxabano zinjengamasango enqaba avaliweyo.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Isisu somuntu sigcwaliswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe; usuthiswa yisivuno sezindebe zakhe.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ulimi lulamandla okuphila lokufa, njalo labo abaluthandayo bazakudla izithelo zalo.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Lowo ozuza umfazi ufumana okuhle, athole umusa kuThixo.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Umyanga uyancenga ukuthi axolelwe, kodwa isinothi siphendula ngolaka.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Umuntu olabangane abanengi ucina kubi, kodwa kuba khona umngane othembeka okudlula umfowenu.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
