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 isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
