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.
The heaven 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 finer:
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 great men:
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
For better is it 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 have seen.
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 [himself], and disclose not the secret of another:
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
Lest he that heareth it revile thee, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
A word fitly spoken is [like] apples of gold in baskets 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 upon 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 them that send him; for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
[As] clouds and wind without rain, [so is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.
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 filled 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 man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
[As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy 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 the LORD shall reward thee.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in the comer of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
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.
[As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [so 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: so [for men] to search out their own glory is [not] glory.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
He whose spirit is without restraint is [like] a city that is broken down and hath no wall.
