< Proverbs 16 >
1 The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
Umuntu ulamacebo enhliziyo, kodwa impendulo yolimi ivela eNkosini.
2 All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
Zonke indlela zomuntu zihlanzekile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ilinganisa imimoya.
3 Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
Giqela eNkosini imisebenzi yakho, lamacebo akho azaqiniswa.
4 The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
INkosi izenzele konke, lomubi laye usuku lobubi.
5 Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
Wonke ozigqajayo ngenhliziyo uyisinengiso eNkosini; isandla esandleni, kayikuyekelwa engajeziswanga.
6 By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
Ngomusa leqiniso isono siyahlawulelwa, langokuyesaba iNkosi umuntu uyasuka ebubini.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
Nxa indlela zomuntu zithokozisa iNkosi, iyenza lezitha zakhe zibe lokuthula laye.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
Okulutshwana kanye lokulunga kungcono kulobunengi benzuzo engelakulunga.
9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
Inhliziyo yomuntu iceba indlela yakhe, kodwa iNkosi iqondisa inyathelo lakhe.
10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
Isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sisendebeni zenkosi; umlomo wayo kawuyikuphambeka kusahlulelo.
11 True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Isikali lesilinganiso esilungileyo kungokweNkosi; wonke amatshe okulinganisa omgodla angumsebenzi wayo.
12 Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
Kuyisinengiso emakhosini ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi simiswa ngokulunga.
13 Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
Indebe zokulunga ziyintokozo yamakhosi; iyathanda okhuluma izinto eziqondileyo.
14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
Ulaka lombusi luyizithunywa zokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzaluthulisa.
15 In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
Ekukhanyeni kobuso benkosi kulempilo, lomusa wayo unjengeyezi lezulu lamuva.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza inhlakanipho kulegolide; lokuzuza ukuqedisisa kukhethwa kulesiliva.
17 The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
Umgwaqo omkhulu wabaqotho yikusuka ebubini; olondoloza umphefumulo wakhe unanzelela indlela yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kuqalela ukubhujiswa, lokuziphakamisa komoya kuqalela ukuwa.
19 Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
Kungcono ukuthobeka ngomoya kanye labamnene, kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
Ophatha udaba ngenhlakanipho uzathola okuhle; lothemba eNkosini uyathaba.
21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
Ohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo kuthiwa ngoqedisisayo; lobumnandi bendebe bandisa imfundiso.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
Ukuqedisisa kwabalakho kungumthombo wempilo, kodwa ukulaya kwezithutha kuyibuthutha.
23 The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
Ingqondo yohlakaniphileyo yenza umlomo wakhe uhlakaniphe, izakwandisa imfundiso endebeni zakhe.
24 Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
Amazwi amnandi aluhlanga loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni, ayimpiliso emathanjeni.
25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala iqondile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
26 The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
Indlala yomtshikatshiki iyazitshikatshikela, ngoba umlomo wakhe uyamkhuthaza.
27 A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
Umuntu omubi ugebha ububi; lendebeni zakhe kulokunjengomlilo otshisayo.
28 A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
Umuntu ophambeneyo ungenisa ingxabano, lonyeyayo wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
29 A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
Umuntu wobudlwangudlwangu uhuga umakhelwane wakhe, amhambise ngendlela engalunganga.
30 He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
Uvala amehlo akhe ukuceba izinto eziphambeneyo, eluma indebe zakhe aqede ububi.
31 The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
Izimvu zekhanda zingumqhele wodumo; zitholakala endleleni yokulunga.
32 He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
Ophuza ukuthukuthela ungcono kuleqhawe, lobusa umoya wakhe kulothumba umuzi.
33 A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
Inkatho iphoselwa ethangazini, kodwa isinqumo sayo sonke sivela eNkosini.