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 comely for a fool.
2 Njengentaka ephaphazelayo loba inkonjane entwezayo, sinjalo isiqalekiso esingelasizatho kasinamatheli.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 Isiswebhu ngesebhiza, amatomu ngakababhemi, loswazi ngolwemihlane yeziwula!
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an 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 be like to him — even thou.
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 is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Njengemilenze eqhugezelayo eyomuntu oqhulayo sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni kunjalo ukupha udumo koyisiwula.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Njengogatsha lwameva luphethwe yisidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wesiwula.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Njengomtshoko ociba loba ngubani odlulayo unjalo oqhatsha isiwula loba umuntu ozedlulelayo.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayo kanjalo isiwula siyabuphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Uyambona yini umuntu ozibona engohlakaniphileyo? Kulethemba elingcono ngesiwula kulaye.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Ivilavoxo lithi, “Kulesilwane endleleni, kulesilwane emigwaqweni!”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 Njengesivalo esitshibilika ngamabhanti aso kanjalo ivila liphenduka embhedeni walo.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Ivilavoxo litshonisa isandla salo emganwini; livilaphe ukusa isandla emlonyeni lidle.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Ivila lizibona lihlakaniphile kakhulu okwedlula abantu abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngokuhlakanipha.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Njengomuntu odonsa inja ngendlebe unjalo umuntu othi edlula angenele ingxabano ingesiyakhe.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Njengohlanya luphosa izikhuni zomlilo kumbe imitshoko ebulalayo,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 injalo indoda ephoxa umakhelwane wayo ibisisithi, “Bengizidlalela nje!”
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Nxa kungaselankuni umlilo uyacima; nxa kungaselakunyeya ukuxabana kuyaphela.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Njengamalahle avuthayo loba njengenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu othanda ingxabano ekuvuseni inkani.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Amazwi omuntu onyeyayo anjengezibiliboco; angena ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yomuntu.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Njengesiliva egcotshwe esitsheni sebumba sikhazimule kunjalo ukuthakazelela kwezindebe zenhliziyo elobubi.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Umuntu olenhliziyo embi uvala ngezindebe ezimnandi, kodwa enhliziyweni yakhe ufihle inkohliso.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Loba ukukhuluma kwakhe kumnandi, kodwa ungaze wamkholwa, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe igcwele izithuko eziyisikhombisa.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Inzondo yakhe angayivala ngobuqili, kodwa ububi bakhe buzavezwa obala ebantwini.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Umuntu angagebha umgodi, uzawela kuwo; umuntu angagiqa ilitshe, lizaphenduka ligiqikele phezu kwakhe.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Ulimi oluqamba amanga luyabazonda labo olubalimazayo, lomlomo okhohlisayo uletha incithakalo.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
