Izaga 14
1 Wonke owesifazana ohlakaniphileyo uyayakha indlu yakhe, kodwa oyisithutha uyayidiliza ngezandla zakhe.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Ohamba ngobuqotho bakhe wesaba iNkosi, kodwa ophambene ngendlela zakhe uyayidelela.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Emlonyeni wesithutha kulentonga yokuzigqaja, kodwa indebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyabagcina.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Lapho okungekho izinkabi khona umkolo uhlanzekile, kodwa kulesivuno esinengi ngamandla enkabi.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Umfakazi othembekileyo kaqambi amanga, kodwa umfakazi wamanga uphafuza amanga.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Odelelayo udinga inhlakanipho, kodwa kayikho; kodwa ulwazi lulula koqedisisayo.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Suka phambi komuntu oyisithutha, nxa ungayikunanzelela kuye indebe zolwazi.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Inhlakanipho yokhaliphileyo yikuqedisisa indlela yakhe, kodwa ubuthutha bezithutha buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Izithutha ziyakloloda ngesono, kodwa phakathi kwabaqotho kulomusa.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Inhliziyo iyazi ukubaba kwayo ngokwayo, lowemzini kahlanganyeli lentokozo yayo.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Indlu yabakhohlakeleyo izachithwa, kodwa ithente labaqotho lizahluma.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Lekuhlekeni inhliziyo isebuhlungwini, lokuphela kwaleyontokozo lusizi.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Ohlehlela nyovane ngenhliziyo uzasutha ngezindlela zakhe, kodwa umuntu olungileyo uzasutha ngaye ngokwakhe.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Ongelalwazi ukholwa lonke ilizwi, kodwa olengqondo unanzelela ukuhamba kwakhe.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Ohlakaniphileyo uyesaba, asuke ebubini, kodwa isithutha siyathukuthela, silitshapha.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Ophangisa ukuthukuthela wenza ubuthutha, lomuntu wamacebo amabi uzazondwa.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Abangelalwazi badla ilifa lobuthutha, kodwa abakhaliphileyo bazathwala umqhele wolwazi.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Ababi bakhothama phambi kwabalungileyo, labakhohlakeleyo emasangweni abalungileyo.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Umyanga uzondwa langumakhelwane wakhe, kodwa abathanda onothileyo banengi.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Odelela umakhelwane wakhe uyona, kodwa olomusa kubayanga ubusisiwe.
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Kabaduhi yini abaceba okubi? Kodwa umusa leqiniso ngokwalabo abaceba okuhle.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Kumtshikatshika wonke kulenzuzo, kodwa inkulumo yendebe ibanga inswelo kuphela.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Umqhele wabahlakaniphileyo uyinotho yabo; ubuthutha bezithutha buyibuthutha.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Umfakazi oqinisileyo uyophula imiphefumulo, kodwa ophafuza amanga ungumkhohlisi.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Ekuyesabeni iNkosi kulethemba eliqinileyo, labantwana bakhe bazakuba lesiphephelo.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kungumthombo wempilo, ukusuka emijibileni yokufa.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Lusebunengini babantu udumo lwenkosi, kodwa kusekuswelekeni kwabantu ukuchitheka kombusi.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Ophuza ukuthukuthela ulokuqedisisa okukhulu, kodwa ophangisa ukuzonda ukhulisa ubuthutha.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Inhliziyo ephilileyo iyimpilo yenyama, kodwa umhawu uyikubola kwamathambo.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Ocindezela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe, kodwa olomusa koswelayo uyamdumisa.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 Okhohlakeleyo uwiswa ebubini bakhe, kodwa olungileyo ulethemba ekufeni kwakhe.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Inhlakanipho ihlala enhliziyweni yoqedisisayo, kodwa okuphakathi kwezithutha kuyaziwa.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Ukulunga kuphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo ebantwini.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Umusa wenkosi usencekwini ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa intukuthelo yayo izakuba kwethela ihlazo.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
