Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger 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 cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Counsel in the heart of man is like 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.
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth 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.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even a child is 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, the Lord hath 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 shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold, and a multitude 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 that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Bread of deceit 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 with good advice make war.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
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 gray head.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
