Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: 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 the LORD weigheth the hearts.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 A haughty look, and a proud heart — the tillage 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 every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they that seek them seek death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; because they refuse to do justly.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
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 thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; overthrowing 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 shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.
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 strong wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 To do justly is joy to the righteous, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the shades.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 He that loveth pleasure 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 the faithless cometh 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 fretful woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; 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, prosperity, and honour.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
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 A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 There is that 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 an abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A false witness shall perish; but the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but victory is of the LORD.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
