Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Abantwana babantwana bangumqhele wabadala, lodumo lwabantwana ngoyise.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Kakuthi ibhere elifelwe yimidlwane lihlangane lomuntu, kodwa hatshi isithutha ebuthutheni baso.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
