Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngelakusasa, ngoba kawukwazi ukuthi liza lithweleni.
Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
2 Yekela omunye akudumise, hatshi owakho umlomo; akube ngomunye, kungabi ngezakho izindebe.
Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
3 Ilitshe liyasinda, itshebetshebe ngumthwalo onzima, kodwa ukucatshulwa yisiwula kunzima okudlula kokubili.
Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
4 Ulaka lulolunya lentukuthelo iyagabha, kambe ngubani ongema phambi komhawu na?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukuthukwa obala kulokuthandwa ngokufihlakeleyo.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Ukulinyazwa ngumngane kakwesabeki, kodwa isitha sikwanga sedlulise amalawulo.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 Osuthiyo kathakazeleli uluju oluvela ekhekhebeni, kodwa kolambileyo lokubabayo kunambitheka mnandi.
If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 Njengenyoni elahleka esidlekeni sayo, unjalo umuntu otshiya umuzi wakhe.
Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
9 Amakha lempepha kuletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lobumnandi bomngane busuka ezelulekweni zakhe eziqinileyo.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo, futhi ungayi endlini yomfowenu nxa wehlelwe yizinhlupheko ungcono umakhelwane eduze kolomfowenu okhatshana.
Don't give up on your friends or your family's friends. Don't go to a relative's house when you've got trouble. A friend nearby is more useful than a relative far away.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana, ulethe intokozo enhliziyweni yami; lapho ngizakwazi ukumphendula ongeyisayo.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
13 Thatha isigqoko salowo owenzela owemzini isibambiso; sigcine njengesithembiso aluba esenzela umfazi ongelasimilo.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to an immoral woman!
14 Uba umuntu evukisa umakhelwane wakhe ngokumnqolonga ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa uyamqalekisa.
If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
15 Umfazi olenkani unjengamathonsi angapheliyo mhlana kusina;
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 ukumkhuza kufana lokukhuza umoya loba lokubamba okulamagcobo ngesandla.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Njengensimbi ilola insimbi, kanjalo indoda ikhaliphisa enye.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 Lowo onakekela isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla izithelo zawo, kuthi lowo olondoloza umqhatshi wakhe abelodumo.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 Njengamanzi etshengisa ubuso bomuntu, kanjalo inhliziyo yomuntu itshengisa ayikho khona.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni imvutho ngeyegolide, kodwa abantu bahlolwa ngodumo lwabo.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 Ungaze uchole isiwula elitsheni, usichole njengamabele ngembokodo kawusoze ubususe ubuwula baso.
Even if you ground stupid people in a mortar, crushing them like grain with the pestle, you can't get rid of stupidity from them.
23 Woba leqiniso ukuthi uhlala usazi kuhle isimo sezifuyo zakho, nanzelela imihlambi yakho;
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 ngoba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 Utshani bungaqunywa kuqalise ukuhluma obunye kuthi bonke obusikiweyo ezintabeni sebubuthiwe,
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 amawundlu azakupha uboya bezigqoko, lembuzi zikuphe imali elingana intengo yesiqinti.
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 Uzakuba lochago lwembuzi olunengi olwakho lolwendlu yakho lusuthise lezinceku zakho.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
