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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
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] Jehovah.
4 Umenzi wobubi ulalela indebe ekhohlakeleyo; umqambimanga ubeka indlebe olimini oluchithayo.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Oklolodela umyanga uthuka uMenzi wakhe; othokoza encithakalweni kayikuba msulwa.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso 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.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Isipho siyilitshe eliligugu emehlweni abaniniso; loba ngaphi esiphendukela khona sizaphumelela.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Osibekela isiphambeko udinga uthando, kodwa ophindaphinda udaba wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Ukukhuza kuyajula koqedisisayo kulokutshaya isithutha ngokulikhulu.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Omubi udinga ububi kuphela, kodwa isithunywa esilesihluku sizathunyelwa kuye.
An evil man seeketh 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.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
14 Ukuqala kwenkani kunjengokuvulela amanzi; ngakho yekela ingxabano ingakazivezi.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Olungisisa omubi lolahla olungileyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, ngitsho bobabili.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Umuntu oswela ingqondo uyabambana ngezandla ukuba yisibambiso phambi kukamakhelwane wakhe.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Othanda isiphambeko uthanda inkani; ophakamisa umnyango wakhe udinga ukubhujiswa.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Olenhliziyo ephambeneyo katholi okuhle, lophambene ngolimi uwela ebubini.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Ozala isithutha, sizakuba lusizi kuye; loyise wesithutha kathokozi.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Inhliziyo ethokozayo yenza kuhle njengomuthi, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Omubi uthatha isipho esifubeni ukuphambula izindlela zesahlulelo.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, 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 provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Ukuhlawulisa olungileyo lakho kakulunganga, lokutshaya iziphathamandla ngenxa yobuqotho.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite 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 intelligent!
