Izaga 25
1 Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 kuba ngcono ukuthi yona ithi, “Woza uhlale ngapha,” kulokuthi yona ikwehlise phambi kwezikhulu. Lokho okubonileyo ngawakho amehlo
For better it is that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
8 ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
9 Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear.
13 Njengokuqanda kongqwaqwane ngesikhathi sokuvuna sinjalo isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo; sivuselela imiphefumulo yabaphathi baso.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
18 Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar on nitre, so is he that singes songs to an heavy heart.
21 Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 Ngokwenza lokho, umokhela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda, njalo uThixo uzakubusisa.
For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
23 Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
