Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngelakusasa, ngoba kawukwazi ukuthi liza lithweleni.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.
2 Yekela omunye akudumise, hatshi owakho umlomo; akube ngomunye, kungabi ngezakho izindebe.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Ilitshe liyasinda, itshebetshebe ngumthwalo onzima, kodwa ukucatshulwa yisiwula kunzima okudlula kokubili.
A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya lentukuthelo iyagabha, kambe ngubani ongema phambi komhawu na?
Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?
5 Kungcono ukuthukwa obala kulokuthandwa ngokufihlakeleyo.
An open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 Ukulinyazwa ngumngane kakwesabeki, kodwa isitha sikwanga sedlulise amalawulo.
The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.
7 Osuthiyo kathakazeleli uluju oluvela ekhekhebeni, kodwa kolambileyo lokubabayo kunambitheka mnandi.
A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.
8 Njengenyoni elahleka esidlekeni sayo, unjalo umuntu otshiya umuzi wakhe.
Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place.
9 Amakha lempepha kuletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lobumnandi bomngane busuka ezelulekweni zakhe eziqinileyo.
Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo, futhi ungayi endlini yomfowenu nxa wehlelwe yizinhlupheko ungcono umakhelwane eduze kolomfowenu okhatshana.
Do not dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana, ulethe intokozo enhliziyweni yami; lapho ngizakwazi ukumphendula ongeyisayo.
My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches.
12 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.
13 Thatha isigqoko salowo owenzela owemzini isibambiso; sigcine njengesithembiso aluba esenzela umfazi ongelasimilo.
Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners.
14 Uba umuntu evukisa umakhelwane wakhe ngokumnqolonga ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa uyamqalekisa.
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses.
15 Umfazi olenkani unjengamathonsi angapheliyo mhlana kusina;
A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable.
16 ukumkhuza kufana lokukhuza umoya loba lokubamba okulamagcobo ngesandla.
He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand.
17 Njengensimbi ilola insimbi, kanjalo indoda ikhaliphisa enye.
Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Lowo onakekela isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla izithelo zawo, kuthi lowo olondoloza umqhatshi wakhe abelodumo.
Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified.
19 Njengamanzi etshengisa ubuso bomuntu, kanjalo inhliziyo yomuntu itshengisa ayikho khona.
In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.
Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable. (Sheol h7585)
21 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni imvutho ngeyegolide, kodwa abantu bahlolwa ngodumo lwabo.
In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge.
22 Ungaze uchole isiwula elitsheni, usichole njengamabele ngembokodo kawusoze ubususe ubuwula baso.
Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken from him.
23 Woba leqiniso ukuthi uhlala usazi kuhle isimo sezifuyo zakho, nanzelela imihlambi yakho;
Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks,
24 ngoba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.
for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation.
25 Utshani bungaqunywa kuqalise ukuhluma obunye kuthi bonke obusikiweyo ezintabeni sebubuthiwe,
The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains.
26 amawundlu azakupha uboya bezigqoko, lembuzi zikuphe imali elingana intengo yesiqinti.
Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field.
27 Uzakuba lochago lwembuzi olunengi olwakho lolwendlu yakho lusuthise lezinceku zakho.
Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids.
