Proverbs 21
1 The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
