Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou know not what a day may bring forth.
2 Owemzini kakudumise, njalo hatshi umlomo wakho; owezizwe, njalo hatshi indebe zakho.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 Ilitshe linzima, letshebetshebe liyasinda, kodwa ulaka lwesithutha lunzima kulakho kokubili.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty, but a fool's vexation is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya, lentukuthelo iyisikhukhula; kodwa ngubani ongema phambi komona?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukukhuzwa ngokusobala kulothando lwensitha.
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
The full soul loathes a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart, so too the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo; njalo ungangeni endlini yomfowenu ngosuku lwencithakalo yakho; kungcono umakhelwane oseduze kulomfowenu okhatshana.
Forsake not thine own friend, and thy father's friend. And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far off.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself. The simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge who is surety for a strange woman.
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be considered a curse to him.
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day, and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and his right hand encounters oil.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
He who keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it, and he who regards his master shall be honored.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
As in water face is to face, so the heart of a man is to a man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Imbiza yokucenga ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide; kunjalo umuntu ngokokudunyiswa kwakhe.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Though thou should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Yazi lokwazi isimo sezimvu zakho, beka inhliziyo yakho kumihlambi yakho,
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 ngoba inotho kayisiyaphakade; kumbe umqhele ube sesizukulwaneni lesizukulwana yini?
For riches are not forever. And does the crown endure to all generations?
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
The hay is carried, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the cost of the field.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
And then will be goats' milk enough for thy food; for the food of thy household, and maintenance for thy maidens.
