Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation.
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
[As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nothing.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.]
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he.
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets.
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause.
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown;
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest.
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and railing man for the tumult of strife.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they strike [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
Though [your] enemy entreat you with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.
