Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
