Proverbs 16
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
6 In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.
Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth 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 abundance of increase without justice.
Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
15 In the light of a king's face [is] life, And his good-will [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.
Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
16 To get wisdom — how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 A highway of the upright [is], 'Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end — ways of death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
31 A crown of beauty [are] grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.
Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
32 Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
33 Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
