Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
