Izaga 20
1 Iwayini liyisideleli; okunathwayo okulamandla kulomsindo; njalo wonke oduha kukho kahlakaniphanga.
Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.
2 Ukwesabeka kwenkosi kunjengokubhonga kwebhongo lesilwane; oyithukuthelisayo wona umphefumulo wakhe.
The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
3 Kuludumo emuntwini ukuyekela inkani; kodwa sonke isiwula siyaziveza.
It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
4 Ngenxa yobusika ivila kaliyikulima; ngakho lizaphanza esivunweni, kodwa kungabi lalutho.
The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
5 Iseluleko enhliziyweni yomuntu sinjengamanzi azikileyo, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uzasikha.
The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.
6 Inengi labantu limemezela, lowo lalowo ukulunga kwakhe, kodwa ngubani ongathola umuntu othembekileyo?
Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
7 Olungileyo uhamba ngobuqotho bakhe; babusisiwe abantwana bakhe emva kwakhe.
The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
9 Ngubani ongathi: Ngihlanzile inhliziyo yami, ngihlambulukile esonweni sami?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
10 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo, ama-efa ehlukeneyo, kuyisinengiso eNkosini, yebo kokubili.
Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
11 Lomntwana uyazazisa ngezenzo zakhe, loba umsebenzi wakhe uhlanzekile kumbe loba uqotho.
Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
15 Kulegolide, lobunengi bamatshe aligugu, kodwa indebe zolwazi zingumceciso oligugu.
There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Thatha isembatho sakhe oyisibambiso sowemzini, umbambe abe yisibambiso sabezizwe.
Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
17 Isinkwa samanga simnandi emuntwini, kodwa emva kwalokho umlomo wakhe uzagcwaliswa ngokhethe.
Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Imicabango uyimisa ngeseluleko; ngakho yenza impi ngamaqhinga amahle.
Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
19 Ohambahamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo; ngakho ungahlangani lokhohlisa ngendebe zakhe.
A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
21 Ilifa lingaphangisiswa ekuqaleni, kodwa ukucina kwalo kakuyikubusiswa.
An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
23 Amatshe ezilinganiso ezehlukeneyo ayisinengiso eNkosini, lesikali esikhohlisayo kasilunganga.
Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
24 Izinyathelo zomuntu zivela eNkosini; pho, umuntu angaqedisisa njani indlela yakhe?
A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?
25 Kungumjibila emuntwini ukuginya okungcwele, lokuhlolisisa emva kwezifungo.
It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
27 Umphefumulo womuntu uyisibane seNkosi, sihlolisisa wonke amakamelo esisu.
The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
28 Umusa leqiniso kuyayigcina inkosi, isekela isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.
29 Udumo lwejaha lungamandla alo, lobukhosi babadala yizimvu zekhanda.
The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
