Source: The Basutos; or, twenty-three years in South Africa by Eugene Arnaud Casalis, 1861. Online at the Internet Archive. The book includes only the English versions of the proverbs.
You can find out more about the Sotho people of southern Africa at Wikipedia.
Below are the proverbs I chose from this book; when I've rephrased, I've included the book's version in parentheses. If there is no version in parentheses, that means I didn't make any changes. You can see the whole slideshow here: African Proverbs.
Human blood is heavy; it weighs down those who shed it so they can't run.
(Human blood is heavy; it prevents him who has shed it from running away.)
Hunger brings the crocodile out of the water.
(Hunger brings the crocodile out of the water.)
Hunger is hidden behind sacks of plenty.
(Hunger is hidden under the sacks.)
[for rich people who ignore the poor]
In the dregs of the drinking cup there is blood.
(There is blood in the dregs.)
[i.e., drinking alcohol can lead to violence]
Lions growl over their food.
(Lions growl over their food. )
[for those who are always complaining]
New waters drive the old waters before them.
(New waters drive the old waters before them.)
[like the generations of mankind]
The needle's point must pass first.
(The point of the needle must pass first. )
[i.e., speak directly, get to the point]
Tomorrow will give birth to the day after tomorrow.
(Tomorrow will give birth to the day after tomorrow.)
[i.e., don't procrastinate]
Water never gets tired of flowing.
(Water is never weary of flowing.)
[for people who talk too much]
You can drown in a river that is only knee-deep.
(One may be drowned in a river, the water of which does not appear knee-deep.)
[i.e., don't be deceived by appearances]
You cannot play safely with a serpent.
(One cannot play with a serpent with impunity.)
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