Izaga 19
1 Ungcono umyanga ohamba ngobuqotho kulesiwula esilezindebe ezingcolileyo.
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 Kakulunganga ukutshiseka kodwa ungelalwazi, loba ukuwalazela uze ulahlekelwe yindlela.
Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
3 Ubuwula bomuntu budiliza impilo yakhe, ikanti inhliziyo yakhe ithukuthelela uThixo.
A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
4 Inotho iletha abangane abanengi, kodwa umyanga ufulathelwa ngumngane wakhe weduze.
Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 Umfakazi wamanga uthola isijeziso, lalowo ohutshuza amanga kayikuphunyuka.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
6 Banengi abazincengela ukuthandwa ngumbusi, njalo wonke umuntu ngumngane walowo ophanayo.
Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
7 Umyanga uhlanyukelwa yizihlobo zakhe zonke, pho abangane bakhe bona bamnina kangakanani! Lanxa ebancenga kangakanani, ngeke esabathola.
All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
8 Lowo ozuze ukuhlakanipha uthanda umphefumulo wakhe; lowo ogogosa ukuzwisisa uyaphumelela.
He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
9 Umfakazi wamanga uthola isijeziso, njalo lowo ohutshuza amanga uzabhubha.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
10 Kakusifanelanga isiwula ukuthi sihlale enothweni kubi kangakanani ukuthi isigqili sibuse amakhosana.
Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
11 Ukuhlakanipha komuntu kumupha isineke; kumupha udumo ukunganaki ukuqalwa.
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
12 Ukuthukuthela kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwesilwane, kodwa ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengamazolo etshanini.
A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 Indodana eyisiwula iyamchitha uyise, lomfazi olenkani unjengamanzi athonta ephahleni njalonje.
A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
14 Izindlu lenotho yilifa elizuzwa ebazalini, kodwa umfazi ozwisisayo uvela kuThixo.
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Ubuvila buletha ubuthongo obukhulu, njalo umuntu owehluleka ukuzenwaya uyalamba.
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
16 Lowo olalela izeluleko uvikela impilo yakhe, kodwa lowo ozedelelayo uzakufa.
He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
17 Olomusa kubayanga upha uThixo, uzamupha umvuzo ngalokho akwenzayo.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
18 Qondisa indodana yakho, ngoba lokho kuzayisiza; ungabi lengxenye yokuyibulala.
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
19 Umuntu ololaka oluphuphumayo luyamtshayisa, ungamlamulela, usuzahlala umlamulela njalo.
A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
20 Lalela ukucetshiswa, wamukele ukuqondiswa, ngoba ekucineni uzahlakanipha.
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 Inhliziyo yomuntu igcwele amacebo amanengi, kodwa yisimiso sikaThixo esimayo.
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
22 Umuntu uloyisa uthando olungaqamukiyo; kungcono ukuba ngumyanga kulokuba lamanga.
The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
23 Ukumesaba uThixo kuholela ekuphileni: olakho uhlala esuthisekile, engathintwa yizinhlupheko.
The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
24 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini, liyehluleke ukubuyisa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Thela uswazi isideleli, abathobekileyo bazafunda ukuhlakanipha; khuza umuntu oqedisisayo, uzazuza ulwazi.
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
26 Lowo ontshontshela uyise, axotshe unina yindodana ethelela inhloni lehlazo.
He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Nxa uyekela ukulandela izeluleko, ndodana yami, uzalahleka utshiye amazwi okwazi.
If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 Umfakazi oxhwalileyo uyawudelela umthetho, lomlomo womubi uminza ububi.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
29 Izijeziso zilungiselwe izideleli, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula.
Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
