Izaga 26
1 Njengongqwaqwane ehlobo loba izulu ebusika kanjalo udumo alusifanelanga isiwula.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not becoming to a fool.
2 Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
As the sparrow wandereth, and the swallow flieth away, So the curse without cause 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 the fool.
4 Ungabophendula isiwula ngendlela yobuwula baso, funa ubenjengaso wena ngokwakho.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also become like to 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 cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage, Who sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
The legs of a lame man hang loose; So is it with a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As he who bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
As a thorn lifted up by 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.
As an archer who woundeth every one, So is he who hireth fools and hireth wayfarers.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog returneth to that which he hath vomited, So a fool repeateth 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; There is a lion in the streets.”
14 Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
As a door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The sluggard dippeth his hand into the dish; 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 who can render a reason.
17 Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.
18 Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
As a madman That casteth about darts, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
So is the man who deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, “Was I not in sport?”
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
Where there is no wood, the fire goeth out; So, where there is no talebearer, contention ceaseth.
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
As coal is for heat, and as wood for fire, So is a contentious man for kindling strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a talebearer are like dainties; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
23 Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
As drossy silver spread over an earthen vessel, So are warm lips and an evil heart.
24 Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
The hater 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.
His hatred is covered by deceit; His wickedness shall be revealed in the great assembly.
27 Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
He that 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 whom it woundeth, And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
