Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
2 Owemzini kakudumise, njalo hatshi umlomo wakho; owezizwe, njalo hatshi indebe zakho.
Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
3 Ilitshe linzima, letshebetshebe liyasinda, kodwa ulaka lwesithutha lunzima kulakho kokubili.
Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
4 Ulaka lulolunya, lentukuthelo iyisikhukhula; kodwa ngubani ongema phambi komona?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukukhuzwa ngokusobala kulothando lwensitha.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo; njalo ungangeni endlini yomfowenu ngosuku lwencithakalo yakho; kungcono umakhelwane oseduze kulomfowenu okhatshana.
Don't give up on your friends or your family's friends. Don't go to a relative's house when you've got trouble. A friend nearby is more useful than a relative far away.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to an immoral woman!
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Imbiza yokucenga ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide; kunjalo umuntu ngokokudunyiswa kwakhe.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Even if you ground stupid people in a mortar, crushing them like grain with the pestle, you can't get rid of stupidity from them.
23 Yazi lokwazi isimo sezimvu zakho, beka inhliziyo yakho kumihlambi yakho,
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 ngoba inotho kayisiyaphakade; kumbe umqhele ube sesizukulwaneni lesizukulwana yini?
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
