Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 ngoba uzabekelela amalahle omlilo ekhanda lakhe, leNkosi izakuvuza.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
