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 isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the hearts.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 A haughty look, and a proud heart — the tillage of the wicked is sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they that seek them seek death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The violence of the wicked shall drag them away; because they refuse to do justly.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.
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 thoughtless is made wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considereth the house of the wicked; overthrowing 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 shall cry himself, but shall not be answered.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a present in the bosom strong wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 To do justly is joy to the righteous, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man that strayeth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the shades.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 He that loveth pleasure 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 the faithless cometh 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 fretful woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; 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, prosperity, and honour.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the stronghold wherein it trusteth.
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 A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 There is that 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 an abomination; how much more, when he bringeth it with the proceeds of wickedness?
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A false witness shall perish; but the man that obeyeth shall speak unchallenged.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he looketh well to his way.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but victory is of the LORD.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
