Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Owemzini kakudumise, njalo hatshi umlomo wakho; owezizwe, njalo hatshi indebe zakho.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Ilitshe linzima, letshebetshebe liyasinda, kodwa ulaka lwesithutha lunzima kulakho kokubili.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya, lentukuthelo iyisikhukhula; kodwa ngubani ongema phambi komona?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Kungcono ukukhuzwa ngokusobala kulothando lwensitha.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo; njalo ungangeni endlini yomfowenu ngosuku lwencithakalo yakho; kungcono umakhelwane oseduze kulomfowenu okhatshana.
Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; and when you are in distress go not into your brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
21 Imbiza yokucenga ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide; kunjalo umuntu ngokokudunyiswa kwakhe.
Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Yazi lokwazi isimo sezimvu zakho, beka inhliziyo yakho kumihlambi yakho,
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 ngoba inotho kayisiyaphakade; kumbe umqhele ube sesizukulwaneni lesizukulwana yini?
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
