Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
