Proverbs 16
1 THE preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
