Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngelakusasa, ngoba kawukwazi ukuthi liza lithweleni.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Yekela omunye akudumise, hatshi owakho umlomo; akube ngomunye, kungabi ngezakho izindebe.
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Ilitshe liyasinda, itshebetshebe ngumthwalo onzima, kodwa ukucatshulwa yisiwula kunzima okudlula kokubili.
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya lentukuthelo iyagabha, kambe ngubani ongema phambi komhawu na?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukuthukwa obala kulokuthandwa ngokufihlakeleyo.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Ukulinyazwa ngumngane kakwesabeki, kodwa isitha sikwanga sedlulise amalawulo.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Osuthiyo kathakazeleli uluju oluvela ekhekhebeni, kodwa kolambileyo lokubabayo kunambitheka mnandi.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Njengenyoni elahleka esidlekeni sayo, unjalo umuntu otshiya umuzi wakhe.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Amakha lempepha kuletha intokozo enhliziyweni, lobumnandi bomngane busuka ezelulekweni zakhe eziqinileyo.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo, futhi ungayi endlini yomfowenu nxa wehlelwe yizinhlupheko ungcono umakhelwane eduze kolomfowenu okhatshana.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana, ulethe intokozo enhliziyweni yami; lapho ngizakwazi ukumphendula ongeyisayo.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 Umuntu olengqondo uthi ebona ingozi acatshe, kodwa isithutha siyaphikelela singena enkathazweni.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Thatha isigqoko salowo owenzela owemzini isibambiso; sigcine njengesithembiso aluba esenzela umfazi ongelasimilo.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 Uba umuntu evukisa umakhelwane wakhe ngokumnqolonga ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa uyamqalekisa.
He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 Umfazi olenkani unjengamathonsi angapheliyo mhlana kusina;
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 ukumkhuza kufana lokukhuza umoya loba lokubamba okulamagcobo ngesandla.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Njengensimbi ilola insimbi, kanjalo indoda ikhaliphisa enye.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Lowo onakekela isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla izithelo zawo, kuthi lowo olondoloza umqhatshi wakhe abelodumo.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honoured.
19 Njengamanzi etshengisa ubuso bomuntu, kanjalo inhliziyo yomuntu itshengisa ayikho khona.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni imvutho ngeyegolide, kodwa abantu bahlolwa ngodumo lwabo.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Ungaze uchole isiwula elitsheni, usichole njengamabele ngembokodo kawusoze ubususe ubuwula baso.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Woba leqiniso ukuthi uhlala usazi kuhle isimo sezifuyo zakho, nanzelela imihlambi yakho;
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 ngoba inotho kayiyikuhlala kokuphela, lomqhele wobukhosi kawuyikuba ngowezizukulwane zonke.
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 Utshani bungaqunywa kuqalise ukuhluma obunye kuthi bonke obusikiweyo ezintabeni sebubuthiwe,
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 amawundlu azakupha uboya bezigqoko, lembuzi zikuphe imali elingana intengo yesiqinti.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 Uzakuba lochago lwembuzi olunengi olwakho lolwendlu yakho lusuthise lezinceku zakho.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
