Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
