Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with dishonour reproach.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great destroyer.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbour comes and searches him.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and parts between the mighty.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
