Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest 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 they 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 importunate.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
The full soul loatheth 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 wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth 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.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near 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 that taunteth me.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted 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 that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (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 shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness 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 for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
