Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner.
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
Do not be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not betray the confidence of another,
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
As clouds and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
