Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
2 Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Remove 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, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.
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.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound 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, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
