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 seemly 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 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 conceit.
6 Njengokuziquma inyawo zakho loba ukunatha itshefu, kunjalo ukuthumela umlayezo ngesiwula.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh 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 bindeth a stone in a sling, 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 parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
12 Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
Seest thou 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] saith, [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 turneth upon his hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The slothful hideth his hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth 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 passeth by, [and] meddleth 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 mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
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 hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
When he speaketh 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 shewed before the [whole] 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 will return upon him.
28 Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
