Izaga 26
1 Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not suitable for a fool.
2 Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless 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 fool's back.
4 Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you 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 conceit.
6 Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks damage.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honour to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
See you a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
14 Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
As the door turns upon his hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
So is the man that deceives his neighbour, and says, Am not I in sport?
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
25 Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
