Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
