Izaga 18
1 Ozehlukanisayo udinga okuloyisekayo kwakhe; ufohlela inhlakanipho yonke.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
2 Isithutha kasithokozi ekuqedisiseni, kodwa ukuze inhliziyo yaso iziveze.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.
3 Lapho okhohlakeleyo esiza, kuza lokudelela, njalo kanye lenhloni, ihlazo.
When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and reproach.
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 flowing stream.
5 Kakulunganga ukwemukela ubuso bokhohlakeleyo, ukuphambula olungileyo kusahlulelo.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.
6 Indebe zesithutha zingena enkanini, lomlomo waso ubiza imivimvinya.
A fool's lips bring him conflict and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Umlomo wesithutha uyintshabalalo yaso, lendebe zaso zingumjibila womphefumulo waso.
A fool's mouth is his ruin and he ensnares himself with his lips.
8 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 Lolivila emsebenzini wakhe ungumfowabo womchithi.
Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.
10 Ibizo leNkosi lingumphotshongo oqinileyo; olungileyo uzagijimela kuwo amiswe phezulu evikelekile.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person runs into it and is safe.
11 Inotho yesinothi ingumuzi waso oqinileyo, lanjengomthangala ophakemeyo ekucabangeni kwaso.
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Mandulo kokubhujiswa inhliziyo yomuntu iyaziphakamisa, njalo mandulo kodumo kulokuthobeka.
Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Ophendula indaba engakezwa, kuyibuwula kuye, lehlazo.
One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.
14 Umoya womuntu uzasekela ukugula kwakhe, kodwa umoya owephukileyo, ngubani ongawuthwala?
A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 Inhliziyo yoqedisisayo izuza ulwazi, lendlebe yabahlakaniphileyo idinga ulwazi.
The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.
16 Isipho somuntu siyamvulela ngokubanzi, simkhokhelela phambi kwabakhulu.
A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.
17 Ongowokuqala ecaleni lakhe ubonakala elungile, kodwa umakhelwane wakhe ufika amhlole.
The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.
18 Inkatho iqeda izingxabano, yehlukanise phakathi kwabalamandla.
Casting the lot settles disputes and separates strong opponents.
19 Umzalwane owoniweyo wedlula umuzi oqinileyo, lengxabano zinjengomgoqo wenqaba.
An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 Isisu somuntu siyasuthiswa yizithelo zomlomo wakhe, uzasuthiswa yinzuzo yendebe zakhe.
From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Ukufa lempilo kusesandleni solimi; labaluthandayo bazakudla isithelo salo.
Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.
22 Othole umfazi uthole okuhle, uzuze umusa eNkosini.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from Yahweh.
23 Umyanga uyakhuluma ngokuncenga, kodwa isinothi siphendula izinto ezilukhuni.
A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.
24 Umuntu wabangane abanengi uzachitheka, kodwa kulomngane onamathela kuleselamani.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.
