Izaga 25
1 Lezi ngezinye njalo izaga zikaSolomoni, ezabhalwa yizinceku zikaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda:
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, collected.
2 Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But it is the glory of kings to search out a matter.
3 Njengalokhu izulu liphakeme lomhlaba ujulile, kanjalo imicabango yamakhosi kayifinyelelwa.
As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!
4 Susa amakhafutha ahlangene lesiliva umkhandi athole ukulungisa isitsha sihle;
Take away the dross from the silver, And there will come forth a vessel for the founder;
5 susa abantu ababi phambi kwenkosi, isihlalo sayo sizaqiniswa ngokulunga.
Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.
6 Ungaziphakamisi phambi kwenkosi, ungaziphendleli indawo phakathi kwezikhulu;
Put not thyself forth in the presence of the king, Nor set thyself 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 better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.
8 ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.
9 Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
Maintain thy cause with thine adversary, But reveal not another's secret;
10 funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, And thy infamy depart not from thee.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngesikhathi esifaneleyo linjengama-aphula egolide ananyekwe emcepheni wesiliva.
A word spoken in season Is like apples of gold in figured-work of silver.
12 Njengecici legolide kumbe umceciso wegolide elicengiweyo kunjalo ukukhuza komuntu ohlakaniphileyo, kolalelayo.
As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an attentive 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 refresheth the spirit of his masters.
14 Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is the man that boasteth falsely of giving.
15 Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a prince appeased; And a soft tongue breaketh bones.
16 Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.
17 Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
Let thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, Lest he be surfeited with thee and hate thee.
18 Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.
19 Njengezinyo elibuhlungu loba unyawo olwenyeleyo kunjalo ukweyama emuntwini ongathembekanga ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka.
As a broken tooth, and a wavering foot, So is trust in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.
20 Njengomuntu okhumula ibhatshi mhla kumakhaza, loba njengokuthela iviniga phakathi kwesoda unjalo ohlabelela izingoma emuntwini odabukileyo.
As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 Nxa isitha sakho silambile siphe ukudla sidle; nxa somile siphe amanzi sinathe.
If thine 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 thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward thee.
23 Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
As the north wind bringeth forth rain, So a backbiting tongue maketh an angry countenance.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a quarrelsome woman in a large house.
25 Njengamanzi aqandayo emuntwini okhatheleyo, zinjalo izindaba ezimnandi ezivela elizweni elikude.
As cold water to the thirsty, So is good news from a far country.
26 Njengesiziba esidungekileyo loba umthombo ongcolileyo unjalo umuntu olungileyo odedela umuntu omubi.
As a troubled fountain, and as a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man falling before the wicked.
27 Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
To eat much honey is not good; So the search of high things is weariness.
28 Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
As a city broken through and without a wall, So is he that hath no rule over his spirit.
