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 sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, so the curse that is causeless lighteth not.
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 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 [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
[As] an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [so is] a fool that 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 sluggard 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 its hinges, so doth 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.
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] 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 the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
For lack of wood the fire goeth out: and where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
[As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a whisperer 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.
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are [like] 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 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.
Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, his wickedness shall be openly shewed before 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 whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
