Izaga 11
1 UThixo uyazenyanya izilinganiso zokudlelezela, kodwa uthokoza ngezilinganiso eziqondileyo.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 Nxa kungena ukuzigqaja kungena lokweyisa, kodwa ukuzithoba kuhamba lenhlakanipho.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho kwabaqondileyo buyabakhokhela, kodwa abangathembekanga babulawa yibumenemene babo.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Inotho kayisizi lutho ngosuku lweziphithiphithi kodwa ukulunga kuyaphephisa ekufeni.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 Ukulunga kwabangelacala kuqondisa indlela yabo, kodwa ababi bawiswa yibubi babo.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqondileyo kuyabakhulula, kodwa abangathembekanga bagwenxwa yizinkanuko zabo ezimbi.
The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 Umuntu omubi angafa ithemba lakhe liyaphela; konke abesithi uzakuzuza ngamandla akhe kuphelela ezeni.
At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 Umuntu olungileyo uyakhululwa enkathazweni, kusuke kuyewela komubi.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 Ngomlomo wakhe umuntu ongakholwayo uyamchitha umakhelwane, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayaphepha.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 Nxa kuphumelela abalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; nxa kusifa omubi kuba lokujabula.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 Ngokubusiswa ngabalungileyo omubi ubalodumo, kodwa ngomlomo wezigangi uyachitheka.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 Umuntu ongelangqondo weyisa umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uthiba ulimi lwakhe.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 Onyeyayo wehluleka ukuvala isifuba sakhe, kodwa othembekileyo uyayigcina imfihlo.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Isizwe esingelabukhokheli obuqondileyo siyachitheka, kodwa ngobunengi babeluleki siyanqoba.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 Lowo okhuphela omunye umuntu isibambiso uzahlupheka, kodwa owalayo ukupha isibambiso uvikelekile.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 Umfazi olomusa uyahlonitshwa, kodwa amadoda alesihluku azuza inotho kuphela.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 Umuntu olomusa uyazisiza, kodwa umuntu ololunya uyazilimaza.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 Umuntu omubi uhola umvuzo wobuqili, kodwa lowo ohlanyela ukulunga uvuna umvuzo omuhle.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 Lowo omiyo ekulungeni uzuza ukuphila, kodwa oxotshana lobubi uya ekufeni.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
20 UThixo uyabazonda abantu abalenhliziyo embi, kodwa uyathokoza ngalabo abandlela zabo zilungile.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 Kodwa yazi lokhu, ababi bazajeziswa kodwa abalungileyo bazahlala bekhululekile.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 Njengesongo legolide lifakwe emakhaleni engulube, unjalo umfazi omuhle kodwa ongelambeko.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 Izifiso zabalungileyo zizuza okuhle kodwa ithemba lababi liphelela osizini.
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 Ophayo ngesihle uyazuza okunengi kulakuqala, lowo ogodlayo ungenelwa yibuyanga.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 Lowo ophayo uzaphumelela; owonga abanye laye uzakongiwa.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 Abantu bayamqalekisa lowo ogodla amabele, kodwa izibusiso zingumqhele walowo ovuma ukuwathengisa.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 Lowo odinga ukulunga uzuza umusa, kodwa okubi kwehlela lowo okudingayo.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 Othembele enothweni yakhe uzakuwa; kodwa olungileyo uzaphila njengehlamvu eliluhlaza.
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
29 Olethela abendlu yakhe uhlupho ilifa lakhe yize, lesihawu sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo.
He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
30 Izithelo zolungileyo ziyisihlahla sokuphila, njalo lowo ozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
31 Nxa abalungileyo bezuza ukujeziswa emhlabeni pho kuzakuba njani kwabangakholwayo labayizoni!
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
