Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, 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 inner chambers of his body.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, 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.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
