Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
