Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
