Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
