Izaga 28
1 Ababi babaleka kungekho umzingeli, kodwa abalungileyo balesibindi njengebhongo lesilwane.
The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion.
2 Ngesiphambeko sesizwe ababusi baso banengi; kodwa ngomuntu olokuqedisisa ololwazi ukuqonda kwaso kuyelulwa.
By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.
3 Umuntu ongumyanga ocindezela abayanga ulizulu elikhukhulayo ukuze kungabi lokudla.
A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain,
4 Abadela umlayo badumisa ababi, kodwa labo abagcina umlayo balwa labo.
so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.
5 Abantu ababi kabaqedisisi ukulunga, kodwa abadinga iNkosi baqedisisa konke.
Evil men will not understand judgment: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.
6 Kungcono umyanga ohamba ngobuqotho bakhe kulophambene ngezindlela lanxa enothile.
A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar.
7 Ogcina umlayo uyindodana eqedisisayo, kodwa ozihlanganisa lezigangi uyangisa uyise.
A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours his father.
8 Owandisa inotho yakhe ngenzalo langenzuzo uyibuthela olomusa kubayanga.
He that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor.
9 Ophambula indlebe yakhe ekulaleleni umlayo, lomkhuleko wakhe uzakuba yisinengiso.
He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.
10 Oduhisela abaqotho endleleni embi yena uzawela emgodini wakhe, kodwa abaqotho bazakudla ilifa lokuhle.
He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it.
11 Indoda enothileyo ihlakaniphile emehlweni ayo, kodwa umyanga oqedisisayo uzayihlola.
A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him.
12 Lapho abalungileyo bethokoza, kulenkazimulo enkulu; kodwa nxa ababi bephakama, umuntu uyadingwa.
By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.
13 Osibekela iziphambeko zakhe kayikuphumelela, kodwa ozivumayo azitshiye, uzahawukelwa.
He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved.
14 Ubusisiwe umuntu owesaba njalonjalo, kodwa owenza inhliziyo yakhe ibe lukhuni uzawela ebubini.
Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs.
15 Umbusi okhohlakeleyo phezu kwabantu abangabayanga uyisilwane esibhongayo lebhere elizingelayo.
A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.
16 Umbusi oswele ukuqedisisa konke wandisa lencindezelo; ozonda inzuzo embi uzakwelula insuku.
A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.
17 Umuntu ocindezelwe ligazi lomphefumulo uzabalekela emgodini; kabangamsekeli.
He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten thy son, and he shall love thee, and give honour to thy soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.
18 Ohamba ngobuqotho uzasindiswa, kodwa ophambene ngendlela ezimbili uzahle awe.
He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein].
19 Olima umhlaba wakhe uzasutha ukudla, kodwa olandela abayize uzasutha ubuyanga.
He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.
20 Umuntu wothembeko lonke uzavama ngezibusiso, kodwa ophangisa ukunotha kayikuba msulwa.
A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished.
21 Ukuhlonipha ubuso kakulunganga, ngoba umuntu uzakona ngenxa yocezu lwesinkwa.
He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread.
22 Ophangisa ukunotha ungumuntu olelihlo elibi, njalo engazi ukuthi ubuyanga buzamehlela.
An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
23 Okhuza umuntu uzathola umusa emuva okwedlula okhohlisayo ngolimi.
He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favour than he that flatters with the tongue.
24 Ophanga uyise kumbe unina, athi: Akusiso isiphambeko; ungumngane womchithi.
He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man.
25 Ongasuthisekiyo udunga ingxabano, kodwa othemba eNkosini uzakhuluphaliswa.
An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully.
26 Othemba enhliziyweni yakhe uyisithutha, kodwa ohamba ngenhlakanipho uzakhululwa.
He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe.
27 Opha umyanga kayikuswela, kodwa ofihla amehlo akhe uzakuba leziqalekiso ezinengi.
He that gives to the poor shall not be in want: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress.
28 Nxa abakhohlakeleyo bephakanyiswa, umuntu uyacatsha, kodwa nxa bebhubha, abalungileyo bayanda.
In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.
