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 copied out.
2 Kuyinkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ukufihla indaba; ukuchwayisisa indaba ludumo lwababusi.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the glory 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 cometh 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 thyself forward 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 is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen.
8 ungaphangisi ukukubika emthethwandaba, ngoba uzathini nxa umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisa?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Nxa ungaya edale lomakhelwane wakho ungahambi usuhlabela imfihlo yenu,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
10 funa lowo okuzwayo akuyangise uhlale usungumuntu olebizo elibi.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine 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 baskets 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 upon 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 refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Njengamayezi lomoya okungalethi izulu unjalo umuntu ozikhukhumeza ngamandla angelawo.
[As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
15 Ngokubekezela inkosi ingancengwa ize ivume, lolimi oluthambileyo lungalephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Nxa uthole inyosi, dlana okwaneleyo ungedlulisi amalawulo, uzazihlanza.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Ungabi ngunsukuzonke endlini kamakhelwane wakho uzacina usumdaka abesekuzonda.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 Unjengesagila loba inkemba kumbe umtshoko obukhali umuntu ofakaza amanga ngomakhelwane wakhe.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour 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] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an 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 shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 Njengomoya wasenyakatho uletha izulu, lunjalo ulimi olulobuqili luvusa ulaka.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to dwell in the comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman 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.
[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Kakukuhle ukudla inyosi wedlulise, njalo kakulasithunzi ukuzidingela ukudunyiswa.
It is not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
28 Njengedolobho eselidilikelwe ngumthangala walo unjalo umuntu ongazithintiyo.
He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
