Izaga 25
1 Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.
2 Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.
3 Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.
4 Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.
5 susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.
6 Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.
7 kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.
8 ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.
9 Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,
10 funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.
12 Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.
13 Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.
14 Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.
15 Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.
16 Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.
17 Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.
18 Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.
19 Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,
20 Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.
21 Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
23 Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.
25 Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.
26 Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.
27 Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.
28 Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.
