Izaga 14
1 Wonke owesifazana ohlakaniphileyo uyayakha indlu yakhe, kodwa oyisithutha uyayidiliza ngezandla zakhe.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Ohamba ngobuqotho bakhe wesaba iNkosi, kodwa ophambene ngendlela zakhe uyayidelela.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Emlonyeni wesithutha kulentonga yokuzigqaja, kodwa indebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyabagcina.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Lapho okungekho izinkabi khona umkolo uhlanzekile, kodwa kulesivuno esinengi ngamandla enkabi.
Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Umfakazi othembekileyo kaqambi amanga, kodwa umfakazi wamanga uphafuza amanga.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Odelelayo udinga inhlakanipho, kodwa kayikho; kodwa ulwazi lulula koqedisisayo.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Suka phambi komuntu oyisithutha, nxa ungayikunanzelela kuye indebe zolwazi.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Inhlakanipho yokhaliphileyo yikuqedisisa indlela yakhe, kodwa ubuthutha bezithutha buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Izithutha ziyakloloda ngesono, kodwa phakathi kwabaqotho kulomusa.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Inhliziyo iyazi ukubaba kwayo ngokwayo, lowemzini kahlanganyeli lentokozo yayo.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Indlu yabakhohlakeleyo izachithwa, kodwa ithente labaqotho lizahluma.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Lekuhlekeni inhliziyo isebuhlungwini, lokuphela kwaleyontokozo lusizi.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Ohlehlela nyovane ngenhliziyo uzasutha ngezindlela zakhe, kodwa umuntu olungileyo uzasutha ngaye ngokwakhe.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Ongelalwazi ukholwa lonke ilizwi, kodwa olengqondo unanzelela ukuhamba kwakhe.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Ohlakaniphileyo uyesaba, asuke ebubini, kodwa isithutha siyathukuthela, silitshapha.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Ophangisa ukuthukuthela wenza ubuthutha, lomuntu wamacebo amabi uzazondwa.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Abangelalwazi badla ilifa lobuthutha, kodwa abakhaliphileyo bazathwala umqhele wolwazi.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Ababi bakhothama phambi kwabalungileyo, labakhohlakeleyo emasangweni abalungileyo.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Umyanga uzondwa langumakhelwane wakhe, kodwa abathanda onothileyo banengi.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Odelela umakhelwane wakhe uyona, kodwa olomusa kubayanga ubusisiwe.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Kabaduhi yini abaceba okubi? Kodwa umusa leqiniso ngokwalabo abaceba okuhle.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Kumtshikatshika wonke kulenzuzo, kodwa inkulumo yendebe ibanga inswelo kuphela.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Umqhele wabahlakaniphileyo uyinotho yabo; ubuthutha bezithutha buyibuthutha.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Umfakazi oqinisileyo uyophula imiphefumulo, kodwa ophafuza amanga ungumkhohlisi.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Ekuyesabeni iNkosi kulethemba eliqinileyo, labantwana bakhe bazakuba lesiphephelo.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kungumthombo wempilo, ukusuka emijibileni yokufa.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Lusebunengini babantu udumo lwenkosi, kodwa kusekuswelekeni kwabantu ukuchitheka kombusi.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Ophuza ukuthukuthela ulokuqedisisa okukhulu, kodwa ophangisa ukuzonda ukhulisa ubuthutha.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Inhliziyo ephilileyo iyimpilo yenyama, kodwa umhawu uyikubola kwamathambo.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Ocindezela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe, kodwa olomusa koswelayo uyamdumisa.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Okhohlakeleyo uwiswa ebubini bakhe, kodwa olungileyo ulethemba ekufeni kwakhe.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Inhlakanipho ihlala enhliziyweni yoqedisisayo, kodwa okuphakathi kwezithutha kuyaziwa.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Ukulunga kuphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo ebantwini.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Umusa wenkosi usencekwini ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa intukuthelo yayo izakuba kwethela ihlazo.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
