Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
