Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
15 When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
