Proverbs 21
1 THE king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: 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 pondereth the hearts.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing 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 of every one that is hasty only to want.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
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 with a brawling woman in a wide house.
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 simple 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 man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
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 heard.
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
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 shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth 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, righteousness, and honour.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
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 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
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 He 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 abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth 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 safety is of the Lord.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
