Proverbs 21
1 As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
5 The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, 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 present in the bosom, strong wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will 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 in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
