Proverbs 21
1 [Like] channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, —whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 Every way of a man, may be right in his own eyes, but, he that testeth hearts, is Yahweh.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice, is more choice to Yahweh than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 Loftiness of eyes, and ambition of heart—the lamp of the lawless, are sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The plans of the diligent, tend only to abundance, but, of every one that is urgent, only to want.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 The gaining of treasures with a tongue of falsehood, is a vapour driven away, [they who seek them] seek death,
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The violence of the lawless, shall drag them away, —because they have refused to do justice.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 Crooked is the way of a guilty man, but, as for the pure, straight is his dealing.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 Better to dwell on the corner of the roof, than a quarrelsome wife, and a house in common.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the lawless man, craveth mischief, his own friend, findeth no favour in his eyes.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple, becometh wise, when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One observeth the house of the lawless, —He is ready to cast down lawless men into misfortune.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 He that shutteth his ear from the cry of the poor, even he, shall call, and not be answered.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret, quencheth anger, and, a present in the bosom, mighty wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 It is a joy, to a righteous man, to do justice, but, dismay, to the workers of iniquity.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man who wandereth from the way of discretion, in the gathered host of the shades, shall settle down.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 A needy man, shall he be that loveth merriment, the lover of wine and oil, shall not become rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 A ransom for the righteous, is the lawless, and, instead of upright men, the traitor.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 Better to dwell in a desert land, than with a woman, quarrelsome and provoking.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 Desirable treasure and oil, are in the home of the wise, but, a man who is a dullard, will destroy it.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 He that pursueth righteousness and lovingkindness, shall find life, righteousness and honour.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A city of heroes, doth a wise man scale, and bringeth down the strength of its confidence.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth, out of distresses, his soul.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 A haughty insolent one—Scoffer is his name, is he that acteth in a transport of pride.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The craving of the sluggard, killeth him, for his hands have refused to work.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 All the day, he greatly craveth, whereas, the righteous, giveth, and doth not spare.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the lawless, is an abomination, how much more, when, with wickedness, he bringeth it in!
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A false witness, shall perish, but, the man who hearkeneth, with abiding effect, shall speak.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A lawless man emboldeneth his face, but, as for the upright, he, directeth his ways.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 The horse, is prepared for the day of battle, but, to Yahweh, pertaineth the victory.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
