Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngelakusasa, ngoba kawukwazi ukuthi liza lithweleni.
Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Yekela omunye akudumise, hatshi owakho umlomo; akube ngomunye, kungabi ngezakho izindebe.
Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3 Ilitshe liyasinda, itshebetshebe ngumthwalo onzima, kodwa ukucatshulwa yisiwula kunzima okudlula kokubili.
A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
4 Ulaka lulolunya lentukuthelo iyagabha, kambe ngubani ongema phambi komhawu na?
Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukuthukwa obala kulokuthandwa ngokufihlakeleyo.
Better is open reproof than concealed love.
6 Ukulinyazwa ngumngane kakwesabeki, kodwa isitha sikwanga sedlulise amalawulo.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
7 Osuthiyo kathakazeleli uluju oluvela ekhekhebeni, kodwa kolambileyo lokubabayo kunambitheka mnandi.
The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Njengenyoni elahleka esidlekeni sayo, unjalo umuntu otshiya umuzi wakhe.
As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
9 Amakha lempepha kuletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lobumnandi bomngane busuka ezelulekweni zakhe eziqinileyo.
Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo, futhi ungayi endlini yomfowenu nxa wehlelwe yizinhlupheko ungcono umakhelwane eduze kolomfowenu okhatshana.
Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana, ulethe intokozo enhliziyweni yami; lapho ngizakwazi ukumphendula ongeyisayo.
Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Thatha isigqoko salowo owenzela owemzini isibambiso; sigcine njengesithembiso aluba esenzela umfazi ongelasimilo.
Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
14 Uba umuntu evukisa umakhelwane wakhe ngokumnqolonga ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa uyamqalekisa.
When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
15 Umfazi olenkani unjengamathonsi angapheliyo mhlana kusina;
A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 ukumkhuza kufana lokukhuza umoya loba lokubamba okulamagcobo ngesandla.
He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
17 Njengensimbi ilola insimbi, kanjalo indoda ikhaliphisa enye.
Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
18 Lowo onakekela isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla izithelo zawo, kuthi lowo olondoloza umqhatshi wakhe abelodumo.
Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
19 Njengamanzi etshengisa ubuso bomuntu, kanjalo inhliziyo yomuntu itshengisa ayikho khona.
As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni imvutho ngeyegolide, kodwa abantu bahlolwa ngodumo lwabo.
[As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
22 Ungaze uchole isiwula elitsheni, usichole njengamabele ngembokodo kawusoze ubususe ubuwula baso.
Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
23 Woba leqiniso ukuthi uhlala usazi kuhle isimo sezifuyo zakho, nanzelela imihlambi yakho;
Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
24 ngoba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.
For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
25 Utshani bungaqunywa kuqalise ukuhluma obunye kuthi bonke obusikiweyo ezintabeni sebubuthiwe,
When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
26 amawundlu azakupha uboya bezigqoko, lembuzi zikuphe imali elingana intengo yesiqinti.
The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
27 Uzakuba lochago lwembuzi olunengi olwakho lolwendlu yakho lusuthise lezinceku zakho.
And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
