Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
