Izaga 26
1 Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
3 Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5 Phendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, sizabona kungathi sihlakaniphile.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6 Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
