Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: 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 shall find a faithful man?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
