Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
