Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
