< Izaga 11 >
1 UThixo uyazenyanya izilinganiso zokudlelezela, kodwa uthokoza ngezilinganiso eziqondileyo.
A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.
2 Nxa kungena ukuzigqaja kungena lokweyisa, kodwa ukuzithoba kuhamba lenhlakanipho.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho kwabaqondileyo buyabakhokhela, kodwa abangathembekanga babulawa yibumenemene babo.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Inotho kayisizi lutho ngosuku lweziphithiphithi kodwa ukulunga kuyaphephisa ekufeni.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.
5 Ukulunga kwabangelacala kuqondisa indlela yabo, kodwa ababi bawiswa yibubi babo.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqondileyo kuyabakhulula, kodwa abangathembekanga bagwenxwa yizinkanuko zabo ezimbi.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
7 Umuntu omubi angafa ithemba lakhe liyaphela; konke abesithi uzakuzuza ngamandla akhe kuphelela ezeni.
When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.
8 Umuntu olungileyo uyakhululwa enkathazweni, kusuke kuyewela komubi.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 Ngomlomo wakhe umuntu ongakholwayo uyamchitha umakhelwane, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayaphepha.
With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
10 Nxa kuphumelela abalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; nxa kusifa omubi kuba lokujabula.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Ngokubusiswa ngabalungileyo omubi ubalodumo, kodwa ngomlomo wezigangi uyachitheka.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Umuntu ongelangqondo weyisa umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uthiba ulimi lwakhe.
He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 Onyeyayo wehluleka ukuvala isifuba sakhe, kodwa othembekileyo uyayigcina imfihlo.
He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
14 Isizwe esingelabukhokheli obuqondileyo siyachitheka, kodwa ngobunengi babeluleki siyanqoba.
Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 Lowo okhuphela omunye umuntu isibambiso uzahlupheka, kodwa owalayo ukupha isibambiso uvikelekile.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.
16 Umfazi olomusa uyahlonitshwa, kodwa amadoda alesihluku azuza inotho kuphela.
A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.
17 Umuntu olomusa uyazisiza, kodwa umuntu ololunya uyazilimaza.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 Umuntu omubi uhola umvuzo wobuqili, kodwa lowo ohlanyela ukulunga uvuna umvuzo omuhle.
The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness [hath] a sure reward.
19 Lowo omiyo ekulungeni uzuza ukuphila, kodwa oxotshana lobubi uya ekufeni.
He that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life; And he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.
20 UThixo uyabazonda abantu abalenhliziyo embi, kodwa uyathokoza ngalabo abandlela zabo zilungile.
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in [their] way are his delight.
21 Kodwa yazi lokhu, ababi bazajeziswa kodwa abalungileyo bazahlala bekhululekile.
[Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 Njengesongo legolide lifakwe emakhaleni engulube, unjalo umfazi omuhle kodwa ongelambeko.
[As] a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, [So is] a fair woman that is without discretion.
23 Izifiso zabalungileyo zizuza okuhle kodwa ithemba lababi liphelela osizini.
The desire of the righteous is only good; [But] the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Ophayo ngesihle uyazuza okunengi kulakuqala, lowo ogodlayo ungenelwa yibuyanga.
There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.
25 Lowo ophayo uzaphumelela; owonga abanye laye uzakongiwa.
The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 Abantu bayamqalekisa lowo ogodla amabele, kodwa izibusiso zingumqhele walowo ovuma ukuwathengisa.
He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 Lowo odinga ukulunga uzuza umusa, kodwa okubi kwehlela lowo okudingayo.
He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
28 Othembele enothweni yakhe uzakuwa; kodwa olungileyo uzaphila njengehlamvu eliluhlaza.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Olethela abendlu yakhe uhlupho ilifa lakhe yize, lesihawu sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Izithelo zolungileyo ziyisihlahla sokuphila, njalo lowo ozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
31 Nxa abalungileyo bezuza ukujeziswa emhlabeni pho kuzakuba njani kwabangakholwayo labayizoni!
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!