Proverbs 16
1 To man belongeth the preparation of the heart; But 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 pure in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirit.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
3 Commit thy doings to the LORD, And thy purposes shall be established.
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
4 The LORD hath ordained every thing for its end; 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; From generation to generation he shall not be unpunished.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
6 Through kindness and truth, iniquity is expiated; And, through 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 The heart of man deviseth his way, But the LORD establisheth his steps.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 A divine sentence is upon the lips of a king; His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 A just balance and scales are the appointment of the LORD; All the weights of the bag are his work.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 The doing of wickedness is an abomination to kings; For by righteousness is the throne established.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaketh right things.
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The wrath of a king is 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 favor is a like a cloud bringing 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! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 It is the highway of the upright to depart from evil; He that taketh heed to his way preserveth his life.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to share the spoil with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 He who giveth heed to the word shall find good; And he who trusteth in the LORD, happy is he!
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 The wise in heart shall be called intelligent, And sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it. And the chastisement of fools is their folly.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise man instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the taste, and health to the bones.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There is a way that seemeth right to a man, But the end thereof is the way to death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 The hunger of the laborer laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him on.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 A worthless man diggeth mischief, And on his lips there is, as it were, a burning fire.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A deceitful man stirreth up strife, And a whisperer separateth friends.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him into a way which is not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 He who shutteth his eyes to devise fraud, He who compresseth his lips, hath accomplished mischief!
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 who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he who 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 decision thereof is from the LORD.
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
