Izaga 27
1 Ungazincomi ngosuku lwakusasa, ngoba kawazi ukuthi usuku luzazalani.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Owemzini kakudumise, njalo hatshi umlomo wakho; owezizwe, njalo hatshi indebe zakho.
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Ilitshe linzima, letshebetshebe liyasinda, kodwa ulaka lwesithutha lunzima kulakho kokubili.
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than 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 hidden love.
6 Amanxeba omngane athembekile, kodwa ukwanga kwesitha kuyakhohlisa.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Umphefumulo osuthiyo unyathelela phansi uhlanga loluju, kodwa kumphefumulo olambileyo konke okubabayo kumnandi.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Njengenyoni eduha isuka esidlekeni sayo unjalo umuntu oduha esuka endaweni yakhe.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Amafutha lempepha kuthokozisa inhliziyo; kunjalo ubumnandi bomngane womuntu ngenxa yeseluleko somphefumulo.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 Ungadeli umngane wakho lomngane kayihlo; njalo ungangeni endlini yomfowenu ngosuku lwencithakalo yakho; kungcono umakhelwane oseduze kulomfowenu okhatshana.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Hlakanipha, ndodana yami, uthokozise inhliziyo yami, ukuze ngibe lempendulo kongisolayo.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 Okhaliphileyo uyabona ububi acatshe, kodwa abangelalwazi bayaqhubeka bajeziswe.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Thatha isigqoko soyisibambiso ngenxa yowemzini, umthathele isibambiso ngenxa yowesifazana wezizwe.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 Obusisa umngane wakhe ngelizwi elikhulu evuka ekuseni kakhulu, kuzathiwa yisiqalekiso kuye.
He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 Ukuchophelela ngosuku lwezulu eliqhubekayo lowesifazana oxabanayo kuyafanana.
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 Omfihlayo ufihla umoya, lamagcobo ahlangana lesandla sakhe sokunene.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Insimbi ilolwa ngensimbi; ngokunjalo umuntu ulola ubuso bomngane wakhe.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Olondoloza isihlahla somkhiwa uzakudla isithelo saso; lolinda inkosi yakhe uzadunyiswa.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honoured.
19 Njengemanzini ubuso busebusweni, ngokunjalo inhliziyo yomuntu isemuntwini.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Imbiza yokucenga ngeyesiliva, lesithando ngesegolide; kunjalo umuntu ngokokudunyiswa kwakhe.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Lanxa ugiga isithutha ngomgigo engigeni phakathi kwengqoloyi, ubuthutha baso kabuyikusuka kuso.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Yazi lokwazi isimo sezimvu zakho, beka inhliziyo yakho kumihlambi yakho,
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 ngoba inotho kayisiyaphakade; kumbe umqhele ube sesizukulwaneni lesizukulwana yini?
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 Utshani buyasuswa, lohlaza lubonakale, kubuthwe lemibhida yezintaba.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 Amawundlu angawezigqoko zakho, lezimpongo ziyintengo yesiqinti.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 Kuzakuba lochago lwezimbuzi olwanele ukudla kwakho lokudla kwendlu yakho lempilo yencekukazi zakho.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
