Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.
2 Owemzini kakudumise, njalo hatshi umlomo wakho; owezizwe, njalo hatshi indebe zakho.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Ilitshe linzima, letshebetshebe liyasinda, kodwa ulaka lwesithutha lunzima kulakho kokubili.
A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya, lentukuthelo iyisikhukhula; kodwa ngubani ongema phambi komona?
Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?
5 Kungcono ukukhuzwa ngokusobala kulothando lwensitha.
An open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo; njalo ungangeni endlini yomfowenu ngosuku lwencithakalo yakho; kungcono umakhelwane oseduze kulomfowenu okhatshana.
Do not dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners.
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses.
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable.
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.
Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable. (Sheol h7585)
21 Imbiza yokucenga ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide; kunjalo umuntu ngokokudunyiswa kwakhe.
In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken from him.
23 Yazi lokwazi isimo sezimvu zakho, beka inhliziyo yakho kumihlambi yakho,
Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks,
24 ngoba inotho kayisiyaphakade; kumbe umqhele ube sesizukulwaneni lesizukulwana yini?
for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation.
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains.
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids.
