Izaga 17
1 Ucezu olomileyo lokuthula kanye lalo lungcono kulendlu egcwele imihlatshelo lengxabano.
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Inceku ehlakaniphileyo izabusa phezu kwendodana eyangisayo, yehlukanise ilifa phakathi kwezelamani.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Imbiza yokuncibilikisa ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who 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; the glory of children is their parents.
7 Indebe elobungcwethi kayisifanelanga isithutha; kakhulu kangakanani indebe yamanga isiphathamandla.
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; 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 cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ophindisela okubi esikhundleni sokuhle, ububi kabuyikusuka endlini yakhe.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Kungani kulemali yokuthenga inhlakanipho esandleni sesithutha, lokhu singelangqondo?
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 Umngane uyathanda ngaso sonke isikhathi, lomzalwane uzalelwa inhlupheko.
A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Inhlakanipho iphambi koqedisisayo, kodwa amehlo esithutha asekucineni komhlaba.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Indodana eyisiwula ilusizi kuyise, iyikubaba kowayizalayo.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 Owazi ulwazi ugodla amazwi akhe; umuntu oqedisisayo ulomoya opholileyo.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 Isithutha esithuleyo laso sithiwa sihlakaniphile; ovala indebe zakhe uthiwa uyaqedisisa.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
