Izaga 14
1 Wonke owesifazana ohlakaniphileyo uyayakha indlu yakhe, kodwa oyisithutha uyayidiliza ngezandla zakhe.
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 Ohamba ngobuqotho bakhe wesaba iNkosi, kodwa ophambene ngendlela zakhe uyayidelela.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 Emlonyeni wesithutha kulentonga yokuzigqaja, kodwa indebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyabagcina.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Lapho okungekho izinkabi khona umkolo uhlanzekile, kodwa kulesivuno esinengi ngamandla enkabi.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by 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 uttereth lies.
6 Odelelayo udinga inhlakanipho, kodwa kayikho; kodwa ulwazi lulula koqedisisayo.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7 Suka phambi komuntu oyisithutha, nxa ungayikunanzelela kuye indebe zolwazi.
Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shalt not perceive [in him] 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 foolish make a mock at 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 a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11 Indlu yabakhohlakeleyo izachithwa, kodwa ithente labaqotho lizahluma.
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Lekuhlekeni inhliziyo isebuhlungwini, lokuphela kwaleyontokozo lusizi.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 Ohlehlela nyovane ngenhliziyo uzasutha ngezindlela zakhe, kodwa umuntu olungileyo uzasutha ngaye ngokwakhe.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
15 Ongelalwazi ukholwa lonke ilizwi, kodwa olengqondo unanzelela ukuhamba kwakhe.
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 Ohlakaniphileyo uyesaba, asuke ebubini, kodwa isithutha siyathukuthela, silitshapha.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 Ophangisa ukuthukuthela wenza ubuthutha, lomuntu wamacebo amabi uzazondwa.
He that is soon angry will deal foolishly: 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 are crowned with knowledge.
19 Ababi bakhothama phambi kwabalungileyo, labakhohlakeleyo emasangweni abalungileyo.
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Umyanga uzondwa langumakhelwane wakhe, kodwa abathanda onothileyo banengi.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 Odelela umakhelwane wakhe uyona, kodwa olomusa kubayanga ubusisiwe.
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Kabaduhi yini abaceba okubi? Kodwa umusa leqiniso ngokwalabo abaceba okuhle.
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.
23 Kumtshikatshika wonke kulenzuzo, kodwa inkulumo yendebe ibanga inswelo kuphela.
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
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 true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.
26 Ekuyesabeni iNkosi kulethemba eliqinileyo, labantwana bakhe bazakuba lesiphephelo.
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kungumthombo wempilo, ukusuka emijibileni yokufa.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from 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 people is the destruction 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 exalteth folly.
30 Inhliziyo ephilileyo iyimpilo yenyama, kodwa umhawu uyikubola kwamathambo.
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Ocindezela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe, kodwa olomusa koswelayo uyamdumisa.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that hath mercy on the needy honoureth him.
32 Okhohlakeleyo uwiswa ebubini bakhe, kodwa olungileyo ulethemba ekufeni kwakhe.
The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Inhlakanipho ihlala enhliziyweni yoqedisisayo, kodwa okuphakathi kwezithutha kuyaziwa.
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
34 Ukulunga kuphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo ebantwini.
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 Umusa wenkosi usencekwini ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa intukuthelo yayo izakuba kwethela ihlazo.
The king’s favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely: but his wrath shall be [against] him that causeth shame.
