Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
