Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
