Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 Amazwi omlomo womuntu angamanzi azikileyo; umthombo wenhlakanipho uyisifula esigobhozayo.
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. 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 who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Jehovah.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
