Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
