< Proverbs 21 >
1 The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
5 The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.