Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Umuntu ulamacebo enhliziyo, kodwa impendulo yolimi ivela eNkosini.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.
Zonke indlela zomuntu zihlanzekile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ilinganisa imimoya.
3 Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
Giqela eNkosini imisebenzi yakho, lamacebo akho azaqiniswa.
4 The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
INkosi izenzele konke, lomubi laye usuku lobubi.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
Wonke ozigqajayo ngenhliziyo uyisinengiso eNkosini; isandla esandleni, kayikuyekelwa engajeziswanga.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Ngomusa leqiniso isono siyahlawulelwa, langokuyesaba iNkosi umuntu uyasuka ebubini.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Nxa indlela zomuntu zithokozisa iNkosi, iyenza lezitha zakhe zibe lokuthula laye.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Okulutshwana kanye lokulunga kungcono kulobunengi benzuzo engelakulunga.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
Inhliziyo yomuntu iceba indlela yakhe, kodwa iNkosi iqondisa inyathelo lakhe.
10 Inspired judgements are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
Isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sisendebeni zenkosi; umlomo wayo kawuyikuphambeka kusahlulelo.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
Isikali lesilinganiso esilungileyo kungokweNkosi; wonke amatshe okulinganisa omgodla angumsebenzi wayo.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Kuyisinengiso emakhosini ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi simiswa ngokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
Indebe zokulunga ziyintokozo yamakhosi; iyathanda okhuluma izinto eziqondileyo.
14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Ulaka lombusi luyizithunywa zokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzaluthulisa.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favour is like a cloud of the spring rain.
Ekukhanyeni kobuso benkosi kulempilo, lomusa wayo unjengeyezi lezulu lamuva.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza inhlakanipho kulegolide; lokuzuza ukuqedisisa kukhethwa kulesiliva.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Umgwaqo omkhulu wabaqotho yikusuka ebubini; olondoloza umphefumulo wakhe unanzelela indlela yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kuqalela ukubhujiswa, lokuziphakamisa komoya kuqalela ukuwa.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Kungcono ukuthobeka ngomoya kanye labamnene, kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
Ophatha udaba ngenhlakanipho uzathola okuhle; lothemba eNkosini uyathaba.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
Ohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo kuthiwa ngoqedisisayo; lobumnandi bendebe bandisa imfundiso.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Ukuqedisisa kwabalakho kungumthombo wempilo, kodwa ukulaya kwezithutha kuyibuthutha.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Ingqondo yohlakaniphileyo yenza umlomo wakhe uhlakaniphe, izakwandisa imfundiso endebeni zakhe.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Amazwi amnandi aluhlanga loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni, ayimpiliso emathanjeni.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala iqondile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
26 The appetite of the labouring man labours for him, for his mouth urges him on.
Indlala yomtshikatshiki iyazitshikatshikela, ngoba umlomo wakhe uyamkhuthaza.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
Umuntu omubi ugebha ububi; lendebeni zakhe kulokunjengomlilo otshisayo.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Umuntu ophambeneyo ungenisa ingxabano, lonyeyayo wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbour, and leads him in a way that is not good.
Umuntu wobudlwangudlwangu uhuga umakhelwane wakhe, amhambise ngendlela engalunganga.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
Uvala amehlo akhe ukuceba izinto eziphambeneyo, eluma indebe zakhe aqede ububi.
31 Grey hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
Izimvu zekhanda zingumqhele wodumo; zitholakala endleleni yokulunga.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
Ophuza ukuthukuthela ungcono kuleqhawe, lobusa umoya wakhe kulothumba umuzi.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Inkatho iphoselwa ethangazini, kodwa isinqumo sayo sonke sivela eNkosini.
