Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
