Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
Umuntu ulamacebo enhliziyo, kodwa impendulo yolimi ivela eNkosini.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
Zonke indlela zomuntu zihlanzekile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ilinganisa imimoya.
3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
Giqela eNkosini imisebenzi yakho, lamacebo akho azaqiniswa.
4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
INkosi izenzele konke, lomubi laye usuku lobubi.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
Wonke ozigqajayo ngenhliziyo uyisinengiso eNkosini; isandla esandleni, kayikuyekelwa engajeziswanga.
6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Ngomusa leqiniso isono siyahlawulelwa, langokuyesaba iNkosi umuntu uyasuka ebubini.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
Nxa indlela zomuntu zithokozisa iNkosi, iyenza lezitha zakhe zibe lokuthula laye.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
Okulutshwana kanye lokulunga kungcono kulobunengi benzuzo engelakulunga.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Inhliziyo yomuntu iceba indlela yakhe, kodwa iNkosi iqondisa inyathelo lakhe.
10 A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
Isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sisendebeni zenkosi; umlomo wayo kawuyikuphambeka kusahlulelo.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Isikali lesilinganiso esilungileyo kungokweNkosi; wonke amatshe okulinganisa omgodla angumsebenzi wayo.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Kuyisinengiso emakhosini ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi simiswa ngokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
Indebe zokulunga ziyintokozo yamakhosi; iyathanda okhuluma izinto eziqondileyo.
14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Ulaka lombusi luyizithunywa zokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzaluthulisa.
15 When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
Ekukhanyeni kobuso benkosi kulempilo, lomusa wayo unjengeyezi lezulu lamuva.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza inhlakanipho kulegolide; lokuzuza ukuqedisisa kukhethwa kulesiliva.
17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
Umgwaqo omkhulu wabaqotho yikusuka ebubini; olondoloza umphefumulo wakhe unanzelela indlela yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kuqalela ukubhujiswa, lokuziphakamisa komoya kuqalela ukuwa.
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Kungcono ukuthobeka ngomoya kanye labamnene, kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Ophatha udaba ngenhlakanipho uzathola okuhle; lothemba eNkosini uyathaba.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Ohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo kuthiwa ngoqedisisayo; lobumnandi bendebe bandisa imfundiso.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
Ukuqedisisa kwabalakho kungumthombo wempilo, kodwa ukulaya kwezithutha kuyibuthutha.
23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Ingqondo yohlakaniphileyo yenza umlomo wakhe uhlakaniphe, izakwandisa imfundiso endebeni zakhe.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Amazwi amnandi aluhlanga loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni, ayimpiliso emathanjeni.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala iqondile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
Indlala yomtshikatshiki iyazitshikatshikela, ngoba umlomo wakhe uyamkhuthaza.
27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Umuntu omubi ugebha ububi; lendebeni zakhe kulokunjengomlilo otshisayo.
28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Umuntu ophambeneyo ungenisa ingxabano, lonyeyayo wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
Umuntu wobudlwangudlwangu uhuga umakhelwane wakhe, amhambise ngendlela engalunganga.
30 He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Uvala amehlo akhe ukuceba izinto eziphambeneyo, eluma indebe zakhe aqede ububi.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Izimvu zekhanda zingumqhele wodumo; zitholakala endleleni yokulunga.
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.
Ophuza ukuthukuthela ungcono kuleqhawe, lobusa umoya wakhe kulothumba umuzi.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Inkatho iphoselwa ethangazini, kodwa isinqumo sayo sonke sivela eNkosini.
