Izaga 14
1 Wonke owesifazana ohlakaniphileyo uyayakha indlu yakhe, kodwa oyisithutha uyayidiliza ngezandla zakhe.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 Ohamba ngobuqotho bakhe wesaba iNkosi, kodwa ophambene ngendlela zakhe uyayidelela.
He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 Emlonyeni wesithutha kulentonga yokuzigqaja, kodwa indebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyabagcina.
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect 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 truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 Odelelayo udinga inhlakanipho, kodwa kayikho; kodwa ulwazi lulula koqedisisayo.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Suka phambi komuntu oyisithutha, nxa ungayikunanzelela kuye indebe zolwazi.
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8 Inhlakanipho yokhaliphileyo yikuqedisisa indlela yakhe, kodwa ubuthutha bezithutha buyinkohliso.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Izithutha ziyakloloda ngesono, kodwa phakathi kwabaqotho kulomusa.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but amongst the upright there is good will.
10 Inhliziyo iyazi ukubaba kwayo ngokwayo, lowemzini kahlanganyeli lentokozo yayo.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 Indlu yabakhohlakeleyo izachithwa, kodwa ithente labaqotho lizahluma.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Lekuhlekeni inhliziyo isebuhlungwini, lokuphela kwaleyontokozo lusizi.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 Ohlehlela nyovane ngenhliziyo uzasutha ngezindlela zakhe, kodwa umuntu olungileyo uzasutha ngaye ngokwakhe.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 Ongelalwazi ukholwa lonke ilizwi, kodwa olengqondo unanzelela ukuhamba kwakhe.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 Ohlakaniphileyo uyesaba, asuke ebubini, kodwa isithutha siyathukuthela, silitshapha.
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 Ophangisa ukuthukuthela wenza ubuthutha, lomuntu wamacebo amabi uzazondwa.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man 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 down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Umyanga uzondwa langumakhelwane wakhe, kodwa abathanda onothileyo banengi.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour, but the rich person has many friends.
21 Odelela umakhelwane wakhe uyona, kodwa olomusa kubayanga ubusisiwe.
He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22 Kabaduhi yini abaceba okubi? Kodwa umusa leqiniso ngokwalabo abaceba okuhle.
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 Kumtshikatshika wonke kulenzuzo, kodwa inkulumo yendebe ibanga inswelo kuphela.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 Umqhele wabahlakaniphileyo uyinotho yabo; ubuthutha bezithutha buyibuthutha.
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 Umfakazi oqinisileyo uyophula imiphefumulo, kodwa ophafuza amanga ungumkhohlisi.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 Ekuyesabeni iNkosi kulethemba eliqinileyo, labantwana bakhe bazakuba lesiphephelo.
In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kungumthombo wempilo, ukusuka emijibileni yokufa.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people 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 lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 Ophuza ukuthukuthela ulokuqedisisa okukhulu, kodwa ophangisa ukuzonda ukhulisa ubuthutha.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 Inhliziyo ephilileyo iyimpilo yenyama, kodwa umhawu uyikubola kwamathambo.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 Ocindezela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe, kodwa olomusa koswelayo uyamdumisa.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honours him.
32 Okhohlakeleyo uwiswa ebubini bakhe, kodwa olungileyo ulethemba ekufeni kwakhe.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Inhlakanipho ihlala enhliziyweni yoqedisisayo, kodwa okuphakathi kwezithutha kuyaziwa.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Ukulunga kuphakamisa isizwe, kodwa isono silihlazo ebantwini.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 Umusa wenkosi usencekwini ehlakaniphileyo, kodwa intukuthelo yayo izakuba kwethela ihlazo.
The king’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.
