Izaga 20
1 Iwayini lenza ukudelela lotshwala buyaxabanisa, okhohliswa yilezi izinto kahlakaniphanga.
Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Ulaka lwenkosi lunjengokubhonga kwesilwane; lowo oyizondisayo udela impilo yakhe.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3 Kumupha udumo umuntu ukubalekela ukuxabana, kodwa iziphukuphuku zonke ziphangisa ukuthenga inkani.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Ivila kalilimi ngesikhathi esifaneleyo; kuthi ngesikhathi sokuvuna liswele amabele.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Izifiso zenhliziyo yomuntu zingamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uyazifinyelela.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6 Banengi abathi balothando olungapheliyo, kodwa ngubani ongamthola umuntu othembekileyo na?
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 Umuntu olungileyo uphila impilo encomekayo; babusisiwe abantwabakhe abamfuzayo.
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8 Inkosi nxa ihlezi esihlalweni sayo isahlulela, iyakuhlungula konke okubi ngamehlo ayo.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9 Ngubani ongathi, “Ngiyigcinile inhliziyo yami imhlophe; ngihlanzekile kangilasono?”
Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10 Izisindo ezitshiyanayo lezilinganiso ezitshiyanayo uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Lomntwana waziwa ngezenzo zakhe, ngokuthi isimilo sakhe sihle, siqotho.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 Indlebe ezizwayo lamehlo abonayo kokubili kwenziwa nguThixo.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Ungathandani lobuthongo uzakuba ngumyanga, hlala uvukile uzakuba lokudla okunengi.
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14 “Kubi, kubi!” kutsho umthengi; esuka lapho usezincoma ngakuthengileyo.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Likhona igolide lamatshe aligugu amanengi, kodwa izindebe ezikhuluma ulwazi zilivelakancane.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Thatha isembatho salowo owenzela owezizweni isibambiso; sigcine nxa ebambisela owesifazane ongaziphathanga.
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Ukudla okuzuzwe ngenkohliso kumnandi emuntwini, kodwa kucina sekungathi udla itshebetshebe.
Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18 Nxa usenza amacebo dinga izeluleko; nxa usiyahlasela zuza ukuqondiswa.
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 Onyeyayo uyehluleka ukugcina imfihlo, ngakho yehlukana lomuntu okhuluma angathuli.
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Nxa umuntu ethuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacinywa abesemnyameni omubi.
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21 Ilifa elizuzwa lula ekuqaleni alilakubusiswa ekucineni.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Ungabokuthi, “Lami ngizakulungisa ngalokhu ongenze khona!” Yekela, uThixo nguye ozakusiza.
Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 UThixo uyazizonda izilinganiso eziguquguqulwayo, njalo kathokoziswa yizikali zokudlelezela.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zikhokhelwa nguThixo. Pho umuntu angayazi kanjani na indlela yakhe?
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
25 Yikuzithiya ukuthembisa ngokuphangisa ukupha ulutho, phambili umuntu aphinde azisole ngalesosifungo.
A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo iyabahlungula ababi; iyabahadla njengelitshe lokuchola.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 Isibane sikaThixo siyawuhlolisisa umphefumulo womuntu; sihlolisisa ekujuleni kwemibilini yakhe.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Uthando lokwethembeka kuyayivikela inkosi; ngothando isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sivikelekile.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 Udumo lwamajaha lusemandleni awo, izimvu zekhanda ziyinkazimulo yabadala.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 Izidutshulo lamanxeba kugezisa okubi, lezibhaxulo zihlambulula ingaphakathi.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
