Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
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?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, 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 inner chambers of his body.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden 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 gray head.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
