Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them 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 provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
