Proverbs 16
Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
2 All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 [There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
15 The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favor with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
16 The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 [He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 [Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 A man who labors, labors for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
31 Old age is a crown of honor, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
32 A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
33 All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
