Izaga 15
1 Impendulo ethambileyo ibuyisela emuva ulaka, kodwa ilizwi elilukhuni livusa intukuthelo.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 Ulimi lwabahlakaniphileyo lwenza ulwazi lube luhle, kodwa umlomo wezithutha uthulula ubuthutha.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 Amehlo eNkosi akuyo yonke indawo, eqaphela ababi labalungileyo.
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 Ukusilisa kolimi kuyisihlahla sempilo, kodwa ukuphambeka kulo kuyikwephuka emoyeni.
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
5 Isithutha sidelela ukulaya kukayise, kodwa onanza ukukhuzwa uhlakaniphile.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 Endlini yolungileyo kulenotho enengi, kodwa enzuzweni yomubi kulenkathazo.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 Indebe zabahlakaniphileyo ziyahlakaza ulwazi, kodwa inhliziyo yezithutha kayinjalo.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa umkhuleko wabaqotho uyintokozo yayo.
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 Indlela yokhohlakeleyo iyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa ithanda ozingela ukulunga.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Ukujezisa kubi kotshiya indlela; ozonda ukukhuzwa uzakufa.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
11 Isihogo lentshabalalo kuphambi kweNkosi; kakhulu kangakanani inhliziyo zabantwana babantu! (Sheol h7585)
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 Isideleli kasithandi osikhuzayo, kasiyi kwabahlakaniphileyo.
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza ubuso bujabule, kodwa ngosizi lwenhliziyo umoya uyadabuka.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo idinga ulwazi, kodwa umlomo wezithutha udla ubuthutha.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 Zonke insuku zohluphekayo zimbi, kodwa inhliziyo ethokozayo ilidili njalonjalo.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Kungcono okuncinyane kanye lokwesaba iNkosi kulenotho enengi lenkathazo kanye layo.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 Kungcono isidlo semibhida lapho okulothando khona kulenkabi enonileyo lenzondo kanye layo.
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 Umuntu ololaka udungula ingxabano, kodwa ophuza ukuthukuthela uzathulisa ingxabano.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 Indlela yevila injengothango lwameva, kodwa indlela yabaqotho ibuthelelwe.
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 Indodana ehlakaniphileyo ithokozisa uyise, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha weyisa unina.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Ubuthutha buyintokozo koswela ingqondo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uyaqondisa ukuhamba kwakhe.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 Amaqhinga angelaseluleko ayachitheka, kodwa ngabeluleki abanengi ayakuma.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 Umuntu ulentokozo ngempendulo yomlomo wakhe; lelizwi ngesikhathi salo, lihle kangakanani.
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 INkosi izadiliza indlu yozigqajayo, kodwa izamisa umngcele womfelokazi.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 Imicabango yomubi iyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa amazwi amnandi ahlambulukile.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
27 Ophanga inzuzo ukhathaza indlu yakhe, kodwa ozonda izipho uzaphila.
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 Inhliziyo yolungileyo inakana ukuphendula, kodwa umlomo wababi uthulula izinto ezimbi.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 INkosi ikhatshana labakhohlakeleyo, kodwa iyezwa umkhuleko wabalungileyo.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 Ukukhanya kwamehlo kuthokozisa inhliziyo, lodaba oluhle lwenza amathambo akhuluphale.
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 Indlebe elalela ukukhuzwa kwempilo izahlala phakathi kwabahlakaniphileyo.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 Owala ukulaywa weyisa umphefumulo wakhe, kodwa olalela ukukhuzwa uzuza ukuqedisisa.
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikufundiswa kwenhlakanipho, lokuthobeka kwandulela udumo.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
