Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
Also these are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah have collected.
2 Kuludumo lukaNkulunkulu ukufihla udaba, kodwa kuludumo lwamakhosi ukuhlolisisa udaba.
It is the honor of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
As are the heavens for height, and the earth is for depth, so should the heart of kings be unsearchable.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Do not glorify thyself in the presence of the king, and force thyself not into the place of great men;
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 shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince, which thy own eyes have [often] seen.
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
Do not proceed to a contest hastily, lest [thou know not] what thou wilt have to do at its end, when thy neighbor hath put thee to confusion.
9 Mela udaba lwakho lomakhelwane wakho, kodwa ungavezi imfihlo yomunye;
Carry on thy cause with thy neighbor; but lay not open the secret of another:
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy never be removed.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a word spoken in a proper manner.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
As an earring of gold, and a pendant of fine gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that listeneth.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
As the cooling of snow on a harvest-day, so is a faithful messenger to those that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his master.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man that vaunteth falsely of a gift.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh bones.
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 consume too much of it, and have to vomit it forth.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened arrow is a man that testifieth as a false witness against his neighbor.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is confidence in a treacherous man in a time of distress.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
[As] he that taketh off his garment on a cold day, [as] vinegar is upon natron: so is he that singeth songs before an unhappy heart.
21 Uba okuzondayo elambile, umnike isinkwa adle, njalo uba omile, umnike amanzi anathe;
If thy 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 though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth secret talking, angry countenances.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in the corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman even in a roomy house.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
As cold water is to a fainting soul, so are good news from a far-off country.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
Like a turbid spring and a corrupt fountain, is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
Like a city that is broken in, and is without walls: so is the man that hath no control over his spirit.
