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 by it 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] 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 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] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
8 Inkosi ehlezi esihlalweni sesahlulelo ihlakaza bonke ububi ngamehlo ayo.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth 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 [is] pure, and whether [it is] right.
12 Indlebe ezwayo lelihlo elibonayo, iNkosi yakwenza, yebo kokubili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Ungathandi ubuthongo, hlezi ube ngumyanga; vula amehlo akho, usuthe isinkwa.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thy eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Kubi, kubi, kutsho umthengi; kodwa esehambile abesezincoma.
[It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone, then he boasteth.
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 goeth about [as] a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Othuka uyise loba unina, isibane sakhe sizacitshwa ebumnyameni obumnyama.
Whoever curseth 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 of it shall not be blessed.
22 Ungathi: Ngizaphindisela okubi; lindela iNkosi, njalo izakusindisa.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save 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?
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] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Inkosi ehlakaniphileyo ihlakaza ababi, ibuyisela ivili phezu kwabo.
A wise king scatterreth the wicked, and bringeth 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 gray head.
30 Imivimvinya yenxeba ihlanza ububi, ngokunjalo izidutshuzo zamakamelo esisu.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
