Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it anywhere 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 ponders the hearts.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to lack.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed back and forth of them that seek death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of man is perverse 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 with a brawling woman in a wide house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 He covers greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs 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 safety is of the LORD.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
