Izaga 26
1 Njengeliqhwa elikhithikileyo ehlobo lanjengezulu ngesikhathi sokuvuna, ngokunjalo udumo kalusifanelanga isithutha.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.
2 Njengenyoni ekuzulazuleni, njengenkonjane ekuphapheni, ngokunjalo isiqalekiso kungelasizatho kasiyikufika.
As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.
3 Isiswepu ngesebhiza, itomu ngelikababhemi, loswazi ngolomhlana wezithutha.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
4 Ungaphenduli isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi lawe ufanane laso.
Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
5 Phendula isithutha ngokobuthutha baso, hlezi sibe ngesihlakaniphileyo emehlweni aso.
Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Othumela amazwi ngesandla sesithutha, uquma inyawo, unatha isihluku.
One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.
7 Imilenze yesiqhuli iyalengalenga; sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
Useless are the legs of the lame, and a proverb, in the mouth of a dullard.
8 Njengokubophela ilitshe esavutheni, unjalo onika udumo esithutheni.
Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.
9 Njengameva enyuka esandleni sesidakwa sinjalo isaga emlonyeni wezithutha.
A brier cometh into the hand of a drunken-man, a proverb into the mouth of dullards.
10 Omkhulu owabumba konke uvuza isithutha, avuze abadlulayo.
[As] an archer who woundeth every thing, [so] one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.
11 Njengenja ebuyela emahlanzweni ayongokunjalo isithutha siphinda ubuthutha baso.
As, a dog, returneth onto his own vomit, a dullard, repeateth his folly.
12 Uyabona yini umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emehlweni akhe? Kulethemba elikhulu esithutheni kulaye.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eye, —more hope of a dullard, than of him!
13 Olivila uthi: Kulesilwane endleleni; isilwane sisezitaladeni.
Saith the sluggard, A roaring lion in the road! A tearing lion in the midst of the broadways.
14 Isivalo siphenduka ngamabhanti aso, ngokunjalo ivila embhedeni walo.
The door, turneth on its hinges, and, the sluggard, upon his bed.
15 Ivila lifihla isandla salo emganwini, liyavilapha ukusibuyisela emlonyeni walo.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Ivila lihlakaniphile emehlweni alo okwedlula abayisikhombisa abangaphendula ngenhlakanipho.
Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.
17 Odlulayo engenela ingxabano engeyisiyo eyakhe ungobamba indlebe zenja.
As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!
18 Njengohlanya oluphosa izikhuni ezivuthayo, imitshoko, lokufa,
As a madman throwing firebrands, arrows and death,
19 unjalo umuntu okhohlisa umakhelwane wakhe, abesesithi: Kangisomi yini?
So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?
20 Uba kungelankuni umlilo uyacitsha; njalo uba kungelakunyeya, ukuxabana kuyathula.
Without wood a fire is quenched, and, where there is no tattler, strife is hushed.
21 Njengamalahle emalahleni avuthayo, lenkuni emlilweni, unjalo umuntu wenkani ngowokubasa ingxabano.
Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.
22 Amazwi onyeyayo anjengezibondlo ezehlela kokungaphakathi kwesisu.
the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
23 Indebe ezivuthayo lenhliziyo embi kungamanyele esiliva ahuqa ukhamba.
Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:
24 Ozondayo uyazenzisa ngezindebe zakhe, kodwa ufaka inkohliso ngaphakathi kwakhe.
With his lips, the hater dissembleth, but, within himself, he layeth up deceit:
25 Lapho esenza ilizwi lakhe libe ngelomusa, ungamkholwa, ngoba izinengiso eziyisikhombisa zisenhliziyweni yakhe.
Though he make gracious his voice, do not trust him, for, seven abominations, are in his heart:
26 Inzondo isibekelwa ngenkohliso; ububi bakhe buzakwembulwa ebandleni.
Hatred may clothe itself with guile, his wickedness shall be disclosed in the convocation.
27 Ogebhayo umgodi uzawela kuwo, logiqa ilitshe, lizabuyela kuye.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, shall fall, and, he that rolleth a stone, upon himself, shall it return.
28 Ulimi lwamanga luzonda olubachobozayo, lomlomo obutshelezi usebenza incithakalo.
A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.
