Izaga 29
1 Umuntu othi ekhuzwa kanengi aqinise intamo, uzahle ephulwe, njalo kungabi lakusiliswa.
Anyone who goes on stubbornly rejecting many warnings will be suddenly destroyed, without hope of healing.
2 Lapho abalungileyo besanda, abantu bayathokoza, kodwa lapho okhohlakeleyo ebusa, abantu bayabubula.
When good people are in charge, everybody celebrates; but when the wicked rule, everybody groans.
3 Umuntu othanda inhlakanipho uthokozisa uyise, kodwa ohlanganyela lamawule uchitha inotho.
A man who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who visits prostitutes throws away his money.
4 Inkosi iqinisa ilizwe ngesahlulelo, kodwa umuntu wezipho uyalichitha.
A king who rules justly makes the country secure, but one who asks for bribes will destroy it.
5 Umuntu olalisa ngolimi umakhelwane wakhe wendlalela izinyawo zakhe imbule.
Those who flatter their friends lay a net to trip them up.
6 Esiphambekweni somuntu omubi kulomjibila, kodwa olungileyo uyamemeza ngenjabulo ethokoza.
Evil people are trapped by their own sins, but those who do right sing and celebrate.
7 Olungileyo uyalwazi udaba lwabayanga; okhohlakeleyo kananzeleli ulwazi.
Good people care about treating the poor fairly, but the wicked don't think about it at all.
8 Abantu abadelelayo bayawuthungela umuzi, kodwa abahlakaniphileyo badedisa ulaka.
Cynical people can inflame a whole city, but the wise calm angry people down.
9 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo emangalelana lomuntu oyisithutha, loba elolaka, loba ehleka, kakulakuthula.
When a wise man takes a stupid man to court, there's raging and ridicule, but nothing is settled.
10 Abantu abomele igazi bazonda opheleleyo, kodwa abaqotho badinga umphefumulo wakhe.
Murderers hate people of integrity, but those who live right try to help them.
11 Isithutha sikhupha umoya waso wonke, kodwa ohlakaniphileyo uyawuthiba.
Stupid people let all their anger out, while wise people quietly hold it in.
12 Umbusi olalela amazwi amanga, zonke izinceku zakhe zikhohlakele.
A ruler who listens to lies will have nothing but wicked officials.
13 Umyanga lomuntu wencindezelo bayahlangana; iNkosi ikhanyisa amehlo abo bobabili.
Poor people and their oppressors have this in common: the Lord gives life to all of them.
14 Inkosi eyahlulela abayanga ngothembeko, isihlalo sayo sobukhosi sizamiswa phakade.
If a king judges the poor fairly, he will have a long rule.
15 Uswazi lokukhuza kunika inhlakanipho, kodwa umntwana oyekelelwayo uthelela unina inhloni.
Discipline and correction provide wisdom, but a son left undisciplined is an embarrassment to his mother.
16 Lapho abakhohlakeleyo besanda, isiphambeko siyanda, kodwa abalungileyo bazabona ukuwa kwabo.
When the wicked are in power, sin increases; but the good will see their downfall.
17 Laya indodana yakho, izakuphumuza; yebo, izanika izinjabulo emphefumulweni wakho.
Discipline your children and they won't give you any worries; they will make you very happy.
18 Lapho okungelambono khona, abantu babengabambeki; kodwa ubusisiwe ogcina umlayo.
Without a revelation from God, the people go out of control, but those who keep the law are happy.
19 Inceku kayilaywa ngamazwi; lanxa iqedisisa, kayiyikuphendula.
A servant can't be disciplined by words alone; though they understand, they don't follow what they're told.
20 Uyambona yini umuntu ophangisa ngamazwi akhe? Kulethemba elingcono esithutheni kulaye.
Have you seen a man who speaks without thinking? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
21 Ototoza inceku yakhe kusukela ebuntwaneni, ekucineni izakuba yindodana kuye.
A servant indulged from childhood will in the end become unmanageable.
22 Umuntu ololaka ubanga ukuxabana, lomuntu ovutha intukuthelo wandisa isiphambeko.
Angry people stir up trouble, those with short tempers commit many sins.
23 Ukuzigqaja komuntu kuzamehlisa, kodwa olomoya othobekileyo uzabamba udumo.
If you're proud, you'll be humiliated; but if you're humble, you'll be honored.
24 Owabelana lesela uzonda umphefumulo wakhe; uzwa isiqalekiso, angakhulumi.
A thief's partner hates his life; even under the threat of being cursed he can't tell the truth.
25 Ukwesaba abantu kuletha umjibila, kodwa othemba eNkosini uzabekwa phezulu evikelekile.
Being afraid of people traps you, but if you trust in the Lord you're safe.
26 Abanengi badinga ubuso bombusi, kodwa isahlulelo salowo lalowo sivela eNkosini.
Many people look for favors from a ruler, but justice comes from the Lord.
27 Umuntu ongalunganga uyisinengiso kwabalungileyo, kodwa oqotho endleleni uyisinengiso kokhohlakeleyo.
Good people hate those who are unjust; the wicked hate those who do what's right.
