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 sand is weighty; But a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Ulaka lulolunya, lentukuthelo iyisikhukhula; kodwa ngubani ongema phambi komona?
Wrath is cruel, and anger overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Kungcono ukukhuzwa ngokusobala kulothando lwensitha.
Better is open rebuke Than love kept concealed.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
He who is fed to the full loatheth the honeycomb; But to the hungry any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
As a bird that wandereth from its nest, So is a man who wandereth from his place.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Oil and perfume gladden the heart; Sweet also is one'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; And go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; The simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a quarrelsome wife are alike.
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
He who restraineth her restraineth the wind; And his right hand layeth hold of oil.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So one man sharpeneth the face of another.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
As in water face answereth to face, So doth the heart of man to man.
The realms of the dead are never full; So 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; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him praise.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly 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 last not for ever; Not even a crown endureth from generation to generation.
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
The lambs are thy clothing, And the goats the price of thy field.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.
