Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
