Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
