Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the 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 kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
