Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed.
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 thing.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of the great;
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
for better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes see.
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, but reveal not the secret of another;
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
lest he that heareth [it] disgrace thee, and thine evil report turn not away.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
[As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
An ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive 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 them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
Clouds and wind without rain, [so] is a man that boasteth himself of a false gift.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be surfeited therewith, and vomit it.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
A broken tooth, and a tottering foot, is confidence in an unfaithful [man] in the day of trouble.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
[As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.
21 Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
[As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is [as] a city broken down, without walls.
