Izaga 25
1 Lalezi yizaga zikaSolomoni abantu bakaHezekhiya inkosi yakoJuda abazikopayo.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, 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, but the glory of kings to search it out.
3 Amazulu ngokuphakama, lomhlaba ngokujula, lenhliziyo yamakhosi kakulakuhlolisiswa.
Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Susa amanyele esiliveni, besekuphuma isitsha somncibilikisi.
Remove the dross from the silver and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.
5 Susa okhohlakeleyo phambi kwenkosi, besekuqiniswa isihlalo sayo sobukhosi ngokulunga.
Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king and his throne will be established by doing what is right.
6 Ungaziqhenyi phambi kwenkosi, njalo ungemi endaweni yezikhulu;
Do not honor yourself in the king's presence and do not stand in the place designated for great people.
7 ngoba kungcono kuthiwe kuwe: Yenyukela ngapha, kulokuthi wehliswe phambi kwesiphathamandla, amehlo akho asibonileyo.
It is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman. What you have witnessed,
8 Ungaphangisi ukuphuma ukuyaphikisana, hlezi wenze ulutho ekucineni kwakho, lapho umakhelwane wakho esekuyangisile.
do not bring quickly to trial. For 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 between you and your neighbor himself and do not disclose another's secret,
10 hlezi okuzwayo akuyangise, lesigcono sakho singaphambuki.
or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.
11 Ilizwi elikhulunywe ngokufaneleyo linjengama-apula egolide ezitsheni zesiliva ezibaziweyo.
Apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right situation.
12 Isongo legolide lesiceciso segolide elihle kungumkhuzi ohlakaniphileyo endlebeni ezwayo.
A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.
13 Isithunywa esithembekileyo kwabasithumileyo sinjengomqando weliqhwa elikhithikileyo ngosuku lokuvuna, ngoba sivuselela umphefumulo wamakhosi aso.
Like the cold of snow at harvest time is a faithful messenger for those who sent him; he brings back the life of his masters.
14 Umuntu oziqhenya ngesipho samanga unjengamayezi lomoya okungelazulu.
Clouds and wind without rain is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.
15 Ngokubekezela umbusi angavunyiswa, lolimi oluthambileyo lwephula ithambo.
With patience a ruler can be persuaded and a soft tongue can break a bone.
16 Utholile yini uluju? Dlana okwenele wena, hlezi uludle kakhulu, uluhlanze.
If you find honey, eat just enough— otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.
17 Unyawo lwakho kalungavami endlini kamakhelwane wakho, hlezi akusuthe akuzonde.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and hate you.
18 Umuntu ofakaza ubufakazi bamanga ngomakhelwane wakhe uyisagila lenkemba lomtshoko obukhali.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19 Ukuthemba ongathembekanga ngosuku lokuhlupheka kunjengezinyo elephukileyo, lonyawo olwenyeleyo.
An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20 Ohlabelela izingoma enhliziyweni edabukileyo unjengokhupha isembatho ngosuku lwamakhaza, njengeviniga phakathi kwesoda.
Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda, is the 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 you will shovel coals of fire on his head and Yahweh will reward you.
23 Umoya wenyakatho uletha izulu, lolimi lwemfihlo ubuso obulolaka.
As surely as the north wind brings rain, so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.
24 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.
25 Umbiko omuhle ovela elizweni elikhatshana unjengamanzi aqandayo emphefumulweni owomileyo.
Like cold waters to one who is thirsty, so is good news from a far country.
26 Olungileyo ozanyazanyiswayo phambi kokhohlakeleyo ungumthombo odungekileyo lesiphethu esonakeleyo.
Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.
27 Ukudla uluju olunengi kakulunganga; lokuthi badinge udumo lwabo kakusidumo.
It is not good to eat too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.
28 Umuntu ongathinti umoya wakhe unjengomuzi ofohlelweyo ongelamthangala.
A person without self-control is like a city breached and without walls.
